THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

PRESENTED  BY 

PROF.  CHARLES  A.  KOFOID  AND 
MRS.  PRUDENCE  W.  KOFOID 


A  Daughter  of  Mexico 


DAUGHTER  OF  MEXICO 


A  HISTORICAL  ROMANCE 

FOUNDED  ON 
DOCUMENTARY  EVIDENCE 


BY 
DR.  A.  E.  BREEN 


AUTHOR 

" INTRODUCTION  TO  HOLY  SCRIPTURE" 

"HARMONIZED  EXPOSITION  OF  THE  FOUR  GOSPELS" 

"DIARY  OF  MY  LIFE  IN  THE  HOLY  LAND" 


ROCHESTER,  N.  Y. 

JOHN  P.  SMITH  PRINTING  COMPANY 
1916 


Copyright  1916 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 

CHAPTER     I PAGES  1-  21 

II       «  22-65 

III «  66-100 

IV       "  101-120 

V «  121-141 

VI «  142-183 

"       VII "  184-248 

"     VIII «  249-279 

IX "  280-299 

X «  300-312 

XI «  313-325 

"      XII  "  326-342 


M317381 


A  Daughter  of  Mexico 

CHAPTEE  I. 

Mexico  is  a  land  of  contrasts.  Tropical  heat  and 
perpetual  snow;  inordinate  riches  and  abject 
poverty ;  aboriginal  Indians  and  twentieth  century 
millionaires;  a  constitution  and  a  state  of  contin 
ual  anarchy;  superstitiously  religious,  and  yet 
pagan  and  savage.  Well  does  Ober  describe  this 
wondrous  land : 

1 '  Mexico  lies  at  the  meeting  place  of  two  zones, 
the  Temperate  and  the  Torrid,  and  from  its  geo 
graphical  position,  combined  with  its  altitudes, 
possesses  a  greater  variety  of  soil,  surface,  and 
vegetation  than  any  (other)  equal  area  of  con 
tiguous  territory  in  the  world.  Basking  in  the  sun 
shine  of  the  Tropics,  her  head  pillowed  in  the  lap 
of  the  North,  her  feet  resting  at  the  gateway  of  the 
continents,  her  snowy  bosom  rising  to  the  clouds, 
she  rests  serene  in  the  majesty  of  her  might.  She 
guards  vast  treasures  of  gold  and  silver ;  emeralds 
and  opals  adorn  her  brow;  while  the  hem  of  her 
royal  robes,  dipped  in  the  seas  of  two  hemispheres, 
is  embroidered  in  pearls  and  riches  of  the  sea. 

' '  Mother  of  western  civilization !  Cradle  of  the 
American  race!  A  thousand  years  have  been 


2  A    DAUGHTEK    OF    MEXICO 

gathered  into  the  sheaf  of  time  since  her  first  cities 
were  built.  When  the  Norsemen  coasted  our 
western  shores  she  had  villages  and  towns,  white 
walled  temples  and  spreading  palaces.  When  the 
Pilgrims  landed  at  Plymouth  Rock,  a  hundred 
years  had  passed  since  the  soldiers  of  Cortes  had 
battled  with  the  hosts  of  Montezuma. ' ' 

In  no  country  in  the  world  can  you  pass  so 
rapidly  from  the  blazing  shores  of  the  heated 
Tropics  to  the  region  of  perpetual  winter,  from 
the  land  of  the  palm  and  the  vine  to  the  land  of 
the  lichen  and  the  pine. 

A  writer  in  the  Geographic  Magazine,  May, 
1914,  declares  that  "here  you  will  see  a  Mexican 
half-breed,  barefooted,  wearing  a  dollar  pair  of 
trousers,  a  fifty-cent  shirt,  and  a  ten-dollar  som 
brero.  There,  at  a  single  glance  and  within  the 
length  of  a  single  city  block,  you  may  see  an  Indian 
car  gad  or,  a  donkey,  an  ox-cart,  a  carriage,  a  rail 
road  train,  a  street  car,  and  an  automobile — 
almost  every  type  of  locomotion  since  Adam. ' ' 

The  area  of  Mexico  is  767,005  square  miles  with 
a  population  of  13,604,000,  of  whom  only  2,062,000 
are  Whites  or  Creoles,  7,380,000  Half-breeds  or 
Mestizos,  4,082,000  Indians,  and  80,000  Negroes. 

The  mighty  Cordillera  (lit.  ' chain »)  of  the 
Andes  crossing  the  Isthmus  of  Panama  rises  into 
the  high  peak  of  Zempoaltepec  (10,000  ft.)  in  the 
state  of  Oaxaca.  Then  the  great  Cordillera 
divides  itself  into  an  eastern  and  western  branch, 


A   DAUGHTEK    OF    MEXICO  O 

called  the  Sierras  (lit.  'saws').  The  Sierra  Madre 
Occidental  continues  throughout  the  entire  longer 
western  part  of  Mexico,  and  merges  into  the 
Rocky  Mountains  in  the  United  States.  It  has  an 
average  altitude  of  8000  ft.  Its  highest  points  are 
Nevado  de  Colima  (14,360  ft.),  and  Volcan  de 
Colima  (12,750ft). 

The  Sierra  Madre  Oriental  is  a  shorter  range, 
terminating  at  the  Eio  Grande  in  the  state  of  Coa- 
huila.  Its  highest  peaks  are  Orizaba  (over  18,200 
ft.)  and  Popocatepetl  (17,800  ft.). 

These  two  great  chains  enclose  the  great  plateau 
of  Central  Mexico. 

The  western  Sierra  leaves  but  a  narrow  strip  of 
land  between  itself  and  the  Pacific  Ocean,  and  the 
descent  is  very  sharp  and  abrupt.  This  configura 
tion  of  the  land  forms  many  good  harbors  on  the 
Pacific  coast. 

On  the  eastern  side  the  strip  of  coast  land  is 
broader,  and  slopes  almost  imperceptibly  to  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico.  On  this  coast  there  are  few  good 
harbors. 

Mexico  has  a  great  variety  of  climate.  The  vast 
tablelands  have  but  two  seasons:  the  wet,  from 
May  to  October ;  and  the  dry,  the  remainder  of  the 
year,  which  is  absolutely  rainless.  The  tempera 
ture  of  the  tableland  is  temperate. 

The  great  Mexican  plateau  is  about  250  miles 
wide,  and  extends  throughout  all  Mexico,  about  a 
thousand  miles.  Its  meagre  and  scattered  popu- 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

lation  is  occupied  chiefly  in  mining  and  stock 
raising.  The  City  of  Mexico  itself  is  situated  in 
this  great  plateau ;  and  though  the  City  of  Mexico 
is  situated  in  a  valley,  the  floor  of  this  valley  is 
8000  ft.  above  sea-level. 

The  climate  of  the  coast  regions  is  very  warm, 
and  there  is  more  rain  there. 

Many  of  the  native  races  which  inhabited  Mexico 
at  the  time  of  its  conquest  by  Cortes  are  still 
there.  Principal  among  these  are  the  Mexicana, 
the  Aztaca  (Aztecs),  the  Tarasca,  or  Michoacana, 
the  Otomi,  the  Opata-Pima,  the  Mixteco-Tzapo- 
teca,  the  Mijea,  or  Zoque,  the  Chontal,  and  the 
Maya  in  Yucatan. 

The  famous  Yaqui  Indians  who  are  scattered 
through  the  state  of  Sonora  are  a  branch  of  the 
Opata-Pima. 

A  considerable  portion  of  the  great  central 
tableland  of  Mexico  is  a  barren  desert,  but  irriga 
tion  would  change  this  into  a  fertile  land,  as 
Saltillo  the  oasis-city  demonstrates. 

The  agricultural  possibilities  of  Mexico  are  very 
great.  It  has  millions  of  acres  of  the  finest 
pastures  in  the  world.  Its  banana  groves  are 
among  the  finest  in  the  world ;  much  of  its  land  will 
produce  two  crops  of  corn  in  the  year.  It  has  fine 
coffee  lands,  rubber  lands  and  cocoa  lands.  In  the 
middle  and  lower  altitudes  the  banana  and  orange 
flourish. 

It  has  some  of  the  finest  forests  in  the  world, 


A    DAUGHTEK    OF    MEXICO  0 

and  its  mines  are  the  ' '  treasure-house  of  the 
world. "  It  produces  one-third  of  the  world's  sil 
ver,  one-ninth  of  the  world 's  lead,  one-twentieth  of 
the  world's  copper,  and  a  considerable  percentage 
of  the  world's  gold.  The  mineral  production,  ex 
clusive  of  iron,  coal  and  petroleum,  in  1910  was 
$158,000,000.  And  yet  the  mineral  resources  of 
this  rich  country  are  in  large  part  undeveloped. 
The  famous  iron  mountain  at  Durango,  nearly  a 
mile  long,  more  than  a  third  of  a  mile  wide  at  the 
base,  and  700  ft.  high,  is  estimated  to  contain  600 
million  tons  of  the  richest  iron  ore.  The  Santa 
Maria  Graphite  Mines  are  the  largest  in  America. 
The  region  near  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  is  rich  in 
petroleum;  the  oil  fields  of  Yucatan  and  Vera 
Cruz  are  among  the  richest  in  the  world. 

The  industries  of  the  Mexicans  are  important. 
The  delicate  drawn-work  of  Mexico,  made  by  In 
dian  women  of  Mexico,  deserves  to  rank  with  the 
finest  laces  of  the  world. 

The  Mexican  cochineal,  made  from  insects  that 
feed  on  the  cochineal  fig  and  other  allied  cacti,  is 
highly  prized. 

Corn  is  the  great  staple  of  Mexico.  It  was  a 
chief  article  of  food  even  in  the  days  of  Monte- 
zuma.  They  make  cakes  of  corn  meal  called  the 
tortilla,  or  the  tamale,  which  may  be  called  the 
national  dish  of  Mexico. 

Another  curious  dish  is  made  of  marsh  flies  and 
their  eggs.  The  insect  deposits  its  eggs  in  great 


6  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

quantities  upon  flags  and  rushes.  The  Indians 
gather  these  eggs  and  press  them  into  little  hard 
cakes  like  cheese.  They  mix  them  with  corn  meal 
and  the  eggs  of  fowl,  and  thus  make  excellent 
cakes.  The  insect  is  about  the  size  of  our  common 
house-fly.  They  are  taken,  pounded  into  a  paste 
and  boiled  in  corn  husks,  as  they  boil  tamales. 
The  Indians  call  the  eggs  of  these  insects  water- 
wheat,  and  they  plant  flags  and  rushes  that  the 
insects  may  lay  their  eggs  thereon. 

One  of  the  most  remarkable  fruits  of  Mexico  is 
the  melon  zapote  or  papaya.  It  grows  wild,  and 
sometimes  attains  a  height  of  25  ft.  The  fruit 
bears  a  resemblance  to  a  cantaloupe  and  a  water 
melon.  From  twenty  to  a  hundred  melons  are 
produced  by  one  tree,  and  some  of  the  melons  may 
weigh  20  pounds.  The  fruit  contains  pepsin,  and 
is  very  healthful.  The  juice  of  the  fruit  and  the 
leaves  have  the  power  to  render  tough  meat 
tender. 

Mexico  is  the  ornithologist's  paradise!  Nowhere 
in  the  world  may  one  find  such  a  vast  and  splendid 
variety  of  birds. 

As  an  evidence  of  what  Mexico  might  be  if  a 
just  and  strong  permanent  government  were 
established,  we  may  note  that  under  Porfirio  Diaz 
the  Bueno  Tono  Cigarette  Factory  had  a  daily 
output  of  twelve  million  cigarettes  a  day.  It  is 
the  largest  cigarette  factory  in  the  world.  There 
were  145  cotton  mills  employing  35,000  operators. 


A   DAUGHTEB    OF    MEXICO  7 

The  Mexican  Light  &  Power  Co.,  at  Necaxa,  is  one 
of  the  largest  in  this  hemisphere. 

The  plan  of  Diaz  would  have  saved  Mexico. 
His  plan  was  to  create  a  middle-class  of  intelligent 
workers  and  thereby  develop  the  industries  of 
Mexico,  and  temper  the  extreme  class  distinction 
between  the  very  wealthy  class  and  the  peons. 
While  the  present  conditions  exist  Mexico  can 
never  be  at  peace.  There  is  a  part  of  the  Mexican 
people  who  are  truly  Christian,  law-abiding  peo 
ple,  but  they  are  not  as  aggressive  as  the  lawless 
part.  They  shrink  from  strife  and  bloodshed,  and 
allow  the  revolutionists  to  devastate  the  fair 
country.  We  see  the  same  thing  in  France.  That 
country  is  a  Catholic  country,  and  those  who  be 
lieve  vastly  outnumber  the  liberals ;  and  yet  these 
Catholics  of  France  permit  a  comparatively  few 
Freemasons  and  atheists  to  rob  the  churches,  de 
stroy  the  glorious  institutions  of  mercy  and  of 
learning,  curtail  the  rights  of  God's  ministers,  and 
violate  the  most  sacred  principles  of  justice  and 
right.  And  this  is  allowed  because  the  good  men 
of  the  land  are  not  organized,  and  are  lacking  in 
moral  courage. 

The  same  conditions  exist  in  Mexico.  The  land 
is  terrorized  by  bands  of  brutal  savages,  who  revel 
in  the  wild  adventure  of  camp  life,  and  who  are 
kept  in  the  ranks  by  the  hope  of  enriching  them 
selves  by  plunder. 

Mexico  needs  a  strong  paternal  government.    It 


8  A   DAUGHTEE   OF    MEXICO 

needs  a  benevolent  iron  hand  to  rule  it.  The  only 
government  which  ever  benefited  Mexico  was  that 
of  Porfirio  Diaz;  and  his  government,  though  in 
name  a  republic,  was  in  reality  a  monarchy. 

The  Mexican  is  much  like  the  Arab :  he  lives  in 
dreamland.  Exaggeration  is  found  in  everything. 
They  are  fond  of  gaudy  things,  emotional,  super 
ficial,  and  intensely  fond  of  holidays.  They  re 
semble  the  Athenians,  cupidi  rerum  novarum. 

But  under  a  government  like  the  present  gov 
ernment  of  Germany  this  people  could  attain  a 
high  degree  of  prosperity. 

There  are  many  beautiful  traits  in  Mexican  life. 
The  Mexican  mother  glories  in  her  large  family  of 
children.  These  Mexican  mothers  form  a  splendid 
contrast  to  those  unnatural  monsters,  too  often 
found  in  our  country,  who,  through  sordid  selfish 
ness  and  accursed  avarice,  violate  the  most  sacred 
laws  of  nature,  and  bear  on  their  wizened  faces 
the  stamp  of  a  reprobate  sense. 

The  Mexican  is  hospitable,  and  charitable;  he 
only  lacks  that  cool,  logical  temper  of  mind  that 
fits  men  to  form  a  republic. 

The  Mexican  reveals  that  immaturity  of  mind 
proper  to  a  child.  He  will  spend  many  valuable 
hours  sharpening  the  spurs  of  cocks  and  witness 
ing  the  cock-fight ;  but  he  thinks  little  of  finding  a 
means  to  save  his  country  from  its  civil  dissension. 
He  will  deprive  himself  of  food  to  procure  a  fine 
sombrero,  and  this  is  the  one  article  of  his  dress  to 


A   DAUGHTEB    OF    MEXICO  i* 

which  he  is  a  slave.  To  keep  the  hat  from  becom 
ing  a  nuisance  the  government  put  a  tax  of  $1.00 
on  the  rims  of  hats  which  exceeded  a  certain 
width. 

The  land  is  full  of  the  most  wretched  beggars ; 
they  study  the  art  of  making  themselves  appear 
most  wretched,  that  they  may  cause  men  to  pity 
them. 

Millions  of  acres  of  the  arid  land  of  Mexico  are 
vast  forests  of  cacti.  They  range  from  the  vast 
Candelabra,  more  than  fifty  feet  high,  and  the 
equally  large  Organ,  to  the  creeping  kinds  that 
scarcely  rise  above  the  ground.  Most  of  the  five 
hundred  known  species  of  cacti  are  found  in 
Mexico. 

One  of  the  great  characteristic  institutions  of 
Mexico  is  the  Hacienda.  These  enormous  private 
estates  were  created  in  the  early  days  of  the  Span 
ish  conquest.  They  are  feudal  and  aristocratic, 
and  constitute  a  sort  of  state  within  a  state.  Some 
of  these  haciendas  are  larger  than  the  entire  state 
of  Connecticut.  Upon  the  Hacienda  de  Cedros 
about  two  thousand  persons  live.  There  is  the 
Casa  Grande  or  great  manor  house  with  associated 
structures,  the  church,  the  mills,  factories,  corrals, 
and  the  homes  of  the  peons. 

The  homes  of  the  peons  are  small  adobe  huts, 
put  up  where  convenience  dictated.  They  are,  for 
the  most  part,  comfortless  and  dirty. 

The  improvement  of  the  conditions  of  the  peon 


10  A   DAUGHTEK    OF    MEXICO 

is  a  difficult  problem.  If  the  master  be  a  good  man 
the  peon  is,  perhaps,  as  well  off  in  peonage  as  his 
nature  will  permit.  His  present  wages  are  small, 
but  larger  wages  would  not  help  him.  He  would 
squander  the  wages,  and  his  condition  would  be 
made  worse.  He  has  no  ambition,  no  thought  for 
the  morrow.  He  is  apathetic  and  childish.  Of 
course  this  does  not  apply  to  all  peons,  but  we  be 
lieve  that  it  is  true  of  a  great  majority. 

Some  are  found  who  are  clean,  industrious  and 
refined. 

The  Hacienda  is  administered  in  truly  feudal 
manner.  There  is  the  administrador,  who  repre 
sents  the  owner.  Under  him  are  caporaleSj  who  ad 
minister  every  one  his  division  or  fraccion.  Un 
der  the  caporales  is  the  major-domo,  who  assigns 
the  men  their  tasks,  supervises  their  work,  and 
makes  a  report  to  the  chief. 

Some  of  the  methods  of  agriculture  are  very 
primitive,  such  as  plowing  with  a  crooked  stick 
tied  to  the  horns  of  oxen,  reaping  with  the  sickle, 
and  threshing  by  driving  oxen  upon  the  grain 
spread  out  on  the  threshing  floor.  Corn  is  planted 
and  shelled  by  hand,  and  the  people  seem  to  ac 
cept  these  primitive  methods  by  choice.  Their 
vehicles  are  rude  and  heavy ;  a  lack  of  any  desire 
for  improved  methods  is  apparent. 

The  Europeans  who  subjugated  Mexico  estab 
lished  themselves  the  lords  of  a  conquered  race. 
They  did  not  follow  the  policy  of  robbery  and  ex- 


A   DAUGHTEK    OF    MEXICO  11 

termination,  as  was  done  in  the  United  States. 
The  natives  were  allowed  to  live  side  by  side  with 
their  masters.  They  intermarried  with  them ;  and 
hence  of  the  13,604,000  inhabitants  of  Mexico, 
7,380,000  are  half-breeds. 

The  foreign  population  two  years  ago  numbered 
100,000  souls,  of  whom  30,000  were  Americans, 
20,000  Spanish,  and  5000  British. 

The  Spanish  conquerors  brought  to  Mexico  the 
Catholic  religion;  and  wherever  human  frailty 
has  not  destroyed  the  effects  of  the  teaching  of 
Christ,  the  Mexican  is  a  beautiful  character. 

But  scepticism,  and  secret  societies,  the  great 
evil  of  all  Latin  countries,  have  wrought  terrible 
havoc  in  Mexico.  Using  these  as  their  allies,  the 
Protestant  missionaries,  those  vampires  of  the 
nations,  have  led  the  Mexicans  into  fatal  error  and 
misery.  It  is  clearly  proven  that  some  of  the 
worst  outrages  of  the  hordes  now  operating  in 
Mexico  were  incited  by  Protestant  missionaries. 
Protestant  missionaries  are  generals,  colonels,  and 
captains  in  the  marauding  armies.  Revolutionary 
governors  of  two  states  are  ex-Protestant  min 
isters.  Protestantism  as  such  does  not  appeal  to 
the  Latin.  He  is  by  nature,  even  though  illiterate, 
too  logical  to  embrace  Protestantism.  He  may  for 
temporal  advantage  feign  to  profess  Protestant 
ism,  but  he  is  not  sincere.  The  effect  of  Protes 
tantism  and  Freemasonry  on  Latin  peoples  is  to 
make  them  infidels  and  atheists.  Freemasonry 


12  A   DAUGHTER   OF   MEXICO 

has  accomplished  this  in  France,  Portugal,  Italy, 
Cuba,  the  Philippines  and  Mexico. 

According  to  some  authorities  two-thirds  of  the 
population  of  Mexico  are  illiterate;  others  esti 
mate  the  illiterate  portion  to  be  as  high  as  ninety 
per  cent.  But  it  would  be  a  great  injustice  to  make 
the  Catholic  Church  responsible  for  this  condition. 
Whatever  of  culture  Mexico  has  is  the  result  of  the 
Catholic  religion.  We  destroyed  the  Indian,  but 
the  Roman  Catholic  polity  of  Mexico  raised  him 
up,  and  patiently  counteracting  his  temperamental 
indifference  to  education,  it  produced  such  schol 
ars  as  Diaz,  Mejia,  Urrutia,  Munguia,  Carillo 
y  Azcona,  Alarcon,  Alt  amir  ano,  Estagnol,  Sanchez 
Santos,  Panduro,  and  Velazquez. 

Mr.  Lummis,  though  hostile  to  Spanish  religion 
and  civilization,  admits  in  his  ' l  Spanish  Pioneers ' ' 
that  the  laws  of  Spain  were  '  '  the  highest-minded, 
most  complete,  most  noble  Indian  policy  ever 
framed  by  man. '  ' 

Father  Kelley  in  his  remarkable  brochure  on 
Mexico  quotes  the  following  testimonies  from 
biased  Protestant  writers : 

"Our  partisan  histories,  even  our  encyclo 
pedias,  "  says  Lummis,  "are  either  strangely 
silent  or  strangely  biased.  They  do  not  seem  to 
recognize  the  precedence  of  Spain,  nor  the  fact 
that  she  made  in  America  a  record  of  heroism,  of 
unparalleled  exploration  and  colonization,  never 
approached  by  any  other  nation  anywhere.  Long 


A   DAUGHTEB   OF    MEXICO  13 

before  the  Saxon  had  raised  so  much  as  a  hut  in 
the  new  world,  or  penetrated  a  hundred  miles  from 
the  coast,  the  Spanish-pioneers  had  explored 
America  from  Kansas  to  Cape  Horn,  and  from  sea 
to  sea;  and  had  far  inland  a  chain  of  Spanish 
cities  five  thousand  miles  long. ' ' 

"Mr.  Lummis  says  that  'they  (the  Spaniards) 
were  far  less  cruel  than  the  Saxon  ones.'  The 
Spaniard  never  exterminated.  He  conquered  the 
Aborigine  and  then  converted  and  educated  him. ' ' 

"I  have  before  me  a  book  by  Professor  Noll,  of 
the  University  of  the  South,  biased,  of  course,  as 
most  such  books  are.  But  the  professor  is  forced 
to  concede  this :  *  It  may  be  frankly  admitted  that 
the  influence  of  the  religious  Orders  was,  in  the 
main,  beneficial  to  the  country  throughout  the  six 
teenth  century.  The  archbishops  and  bishops 
of  Mexico  exercised  great  influence  in  the 
affairs  of  government.  They  were  respected  by 
the  civil  authorities  and  venerated  by  the 
natives.  .  .  .  The  Jesuits  who  arrived 
in  the  year  1572,  true  to  the  purposes  of 
their  Order,  tried  to  foster  learning  in  the  new 
land,  though  with  but  limited  success.  Other  re 
ligious  Orders  established  and  maintained  admir 
ably  appointed  hospitals  and  asylums  in  every 
large  city.'  " 

"Enoch,  an  Englishman,  whose  prejudices  are 
rather  fairly  distributed  against  both  Mexico  and 
the  United  States,  frankly  says :  '  The  Mexican  of 


14  A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO 

today  owes  all  lie  lias — law,  literature,  art  and 
social  system,  and  refinements  of  law  and  religion 
—to  Spain/  " 

Long  is  the  list  of  the  heroic  pioneer  priests  who 
brought  the  knowledge  of  Christ  and  of  Christian 
civilization  to  the  Aborigines  of  North  America. 
Every  man  who  loves  the  truth  venerates  the 
memory  of  Brebeuf,  Jogues,  Bressani,  Chabanel, 
Garnier,  Lalemant,  Mercier,  Goupil,  Eagueneau, 
Poncet,  Le  Moyne,  Chaumonot,  Eecontre,  Gui- 
mont,  Claude  Dablon,  De  Quen,  La  Brosse,  Al- 
louez,  Marquette,  Daniel,  Menard,  Laval,  Fre- 
min,  Bruyas,  Lalande,  Millet,  Pierron,  de  Car- 
heil,  Raffeix,  de  Lamberville,  Garnier,  Druil- 
lettes,  Lejeune,  Rale,  Albanel,  Buteux,  Aulneau, 
Laure,  and  many  others.  Inspired  by  the  faith 
that  Christ  delivered  to  the  world  these  men 
gave  their  lives  for  the  poor  deluded  bestial- 
ized  savages  of  North  America.  They  left  the 
easier  tasks  of  the  Christian  ministry  for  others. 
They  were  led  on  by  no  earthly  hopes,  no  riches  or 
honors :  their  citizenship  was  in  Heaven. 

Ingram  Kip,  the  Protestant  bishop  of  Cali 
fornia,  thus  eulogizes  the  saints,  Jogues  and  his 
confreres:  "So  died  one  of  that  glorious  band 
that  had  shown  greater  devotion  in  the  cause  of 
Christianity  than  has  ever  been  seen  since  the 
days  of  the  Apostles ;  men  whose  lives  and  suffer 
ings  reveal  a  story  more  touching  and  pathetic 
than  anything  in  the  records  of  our  country,  and 


A   DAUGHTEB   OF    MEXICO  15 

whose  names  should  ever  be  kept  in  grateful  re 
membrance;  stern,  high-wrought  men,  who  might 
have  stood  high  in  court  or  camp,  and  who  could 
contrast  their  desolate  state  in  the  lowly  wigwam 
with  the  refinement  and  affluence  that  waited  on 
them  in  their  earlier  years ;  but  who  had  given  up 
home  and  love  of  kindred  and  the  golden  ties  of 
relationship  for  God  and  man.  'Ibo  sed  non 
redibo/  said  Isaac  Jogues,  as  he  went  for  the  last 
time  into  the  valley  of  the  Mohawk.  He  fell  be 
neath  the  blow  of  the  infuriated  savage  and  his 
body  was  thrown  to  feed  the  vultures,  whose 
shrieks  as  they  flapped  their  wings  above  him  was 
his  only  requiem. ' ' 

Greater  love  no  man  hath  than  that  he  lay 
down  his  life  for  his  friend;  and  the  Good 
Shepherd,  who  first  laid  down  His  life  for  us, 
inspired  his  true  servants  to  lay  down  their  lives 
for  the  savage,  who  still  had  a  soul,  and  a  capacity 
for  eternal  life. 

One  of  the  errors  of  history  is  to  attribute  to 
pagans  and  savages  a  certain  natural  nobility  of 
character.  The  pagan  and  the  savage  are  the 
natural  man  moved  by  his  elemental  passions,  and 
we  know  that  man  is  a  fallen  nature.  In  some  rare 
types  of  both  there  may  be  found  some  good  quali 
ties,  but  the  great  mass  are  moved  by  the  lowest 
passions  of  humanity.  We  find  a  convincing  proof 
of  the  great  depravity  of  even  the  proud  pagan 
Roman  in  the  letters  of  St.  Paul.  Those  who 


16  A   DAUGHTER   OF   MEXICO 

travel  among  the  Arabs  become  so  disgusted  with 
their  avarice,  their  lying,  their  carnal  lust,  their 
cruelty,  their  utter  worldliness,  that  they  almost 
lose  hope  of  finding  a  possible  redeemable  remnant 
in  the  massa  damnata. 

The  American  Indian  has  been  overestimated. 
He  was  exceedingly  cruel.  They  cut  in  pieces  their 
victims  and  ate  the  flesh  cut  from  the  writhing 
victim.  One  of  the  great  motives  of  their  warfare 
was  to  obtain  victims  to  torture.  They  were  fierce 
cannibals:  De  Lamberville  testifies  that  the  Iro- 
quois  killed  and  ate  six  hundred  captives  in  one 
expedition  against  the  Illinois.  They  were  brutal 
in  their  carnal  lust.  The  women  were  corrupt 
from  early  childhood.  The  spiritual  order  of  be 
ing  moved  them  but  little.  They  were  moved  by 
what  they  apprehended  by  the  senses.  Though 
many  savages  entertained  some  vague  idea  of  a 
great  spirit,  the  more  carnal  thought  of  the  god  of 
war,  or  some  impure  deity  moved  them  more.  The 
hope  of  some  temporal  gain  appealed  to  them  far 
more  than  the  grace  of  God. 

The  awful  human  sacrifices  of  the  Aborigines  of 
Yucatan  are  well  known.  Into  the  dreadful  well 
were  tossed  prisoners  of  war  and  beautiful 
maidens,  drugged  with  the  sacred  ambrosia, 
Balche,  as  expiatory  sacrifices  to  an  offended 
deity. 

Some  point  to  the  great  temples,  reliefs,  and 
mural  paintings  of  Chichen  Itza  in  Yucatan  to 


A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO  17 

prove  the  civilization  of  the  ancient  Maya  race. 
They  wrote  their  calendar  on  a  great  circular 
stone  twenty-two  feet  in  diameter  and  three  feet 
thick.  It  weighs  over  twenty-three  tons.  Another 
great  stone  containing  a  carved  description  of  the 
rites  of  sacrifice  is  found  in  the  Mexican  National 
Museum.  A  copy  of  it  is  in  our  National  Museum. 
Many  thousands  of  human  victims  were  offered  up 
on  this  stone  to  the  sun-god  of  the  Aztecs.  They 
were  accustomed  to  pluck  out  the  heart  of  the  liv 
ing  victim  and  hold  it  up  in  sign  of  offering  to  the 
deity. 

The  Pyramid  of  The  Sun  and  the  Pyramid  of 
The  Moon,  near  Mexico  City,  are  only  surpassed 
by  those  of  Egypt.  The  Pyramid  of  The  Sun 
covers  an  area  nearly  as  large  as  that  of  the  Pyra 
mid  of  Cheops :  it  is  216  feet  high.  It  is  rich  in  in 
scriptions  which  reveal  some  knowledge  of  astron 
omy,  and  this  is  by  many  proclaimed  as  an  evi 
dence  of  Toltec  civilization. 

A  civilization  which  fills  the  land  with  temples, 
but  leaves  man  cruel,  lustful,  ignorant  of  his  des 
tiny,  ignorant  of  the  one  true  God,  is  a  curse.  Its 
temples  only  prove  how  deeply  a  foul  superstition 
had  fixed  itself  in  the  life  of  the  people. 

When  we  contrast  paganism  with  Christianity 
we  find  this  to  be  true.  The  evils  of  paganism  are 
inherent  in  the  cult  itself.  Its  f etichism,  its  carnal 
uncleanness,  its  devil  worship,  its  sensuality,  its 


18  A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO 

cruelty  spring  logically  from  the  principles  of  the 
false  religion. 

On  the  contrary,  the  evils  which  sometimes  at 
tend  on  Christian  civilization  come  from  the  weak 
ness  of  the  human  exponent  of  the  Christian  faith. 

Human  sacrifice  was  a  part  of  the  religion  of  all 
the  tribes,  but  it  reached  its  greatest  proportions 
among  the  Aztecs. 

When  the  Aztec  Emperor  Ahuitzotl  (1486-1502) 
inaugurated  the  great  temple  in  Mexico,  we  are 
told  by  Father  Motolinia,  in  his  letter  to  Charles 
V.  (1553),  that  during  three  days  there  were  80,- 
400  men  sacrificed  to  the  supreme  god  Teotl  and 
the  subordinate  deities. 

Father  Duran  corroborates  this  testimony,  and 
declares  that  he  found  it  recorded  in  many  places. 

The  Vatican  MS.  gives  the  number  as  20,000; 
but  even  if  we  accept  the  smaller  number  as  cor 
rect,  we  can  have  no  regret  for  the  passing  of  such 
a  horrid  cult. 

Human  sacrifice  was  such  an  essential  of  their 
polytheism,  that  they  directed  their  warriors  not 
to  kill  their  enemies  in  battle,  but  to  take  them 
prisoners  for  sacrifices  to  their  gods.  Historians 
of  the  first  rank  affirm  that  from  15,000  to  20,000 
men  were  annually  sacrificed  to  the  various  Aztec 
deities. 

In  1521  the  Aztec  empire  came  to  an  end.  It  was 
not  an  easy  task  to  overthrow  the  empire  of  the 
Aztecs :  Cortes  and  his  men,  knowing  that  if  taken 


A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO  19 

prisoners  they  would  be  offered  as  human  sacri 
fices,  fought  to  conquer  or  die  in  battle. 

Many  of  the  conquerors  were  evil  men.  Nuno 
de  Guzman,  the  conquerer  of  Michoaican,  was  a 
monster  of  cruelty  and  greed.  Wherever  he 
passed  he  plundered,  tortured,  and  put  to  death 
the  natives  of  whatever  rank.  He  tortured  and 
put  to  death  Tangoaxan  II.  in  a  most  unjust  and 
cruel  manner. 

With  equal  cruelty  Cortes  slew  Cuahutemotzin 
(1521). 

Spanish  civilization  was  in  nowise  responsible 
for  the  cruelty  of  the  Spanish  leaders  and  their 
adventurous  followers.  Not  the  best  of  Spain's 
sons  came  to  New  Spain.  In  the  measure  in  which 
they  were  influenced  by  their  civilization  they 
benefited  the  savages.  Spanish  civilization  was 
formed  and  fashioned  by  the  Catholic  religion,  and 
that  religion  and  the  civilizations  founded  upon  it 
are  the  only  causes  that  have  ever  benefited  the 
savage  race. 

If  at  times  the  home  government  of  Spain  was 
weak  in  repressing  the  cruelty  of  its  agents  in  the 
New  World,  the  fault  is  not  due  to  the  principles  of 
the  religion  of  Spain,  but  to  the  human  element  in 
religion,  which  has  always  revealed  those  limita 
tions  foretold  by  the  Founder  of  Christianity. 

Many  causes  conspired  to  move  the  Spaniards 
to  be  cruel  to  the  Indian.  The  character  of  many 
of  the  Indians  was  evil  and  exasperating,  Many 


20  A   DAUGHTEK    OF    MEXICO 

of  the  Indians,  while  seeming  to  profess  Christian 
ity,  secretly  clung  to  their  heathenish  abomina 
tions. 

Besides  there  was  a  false  persuasion  in  the 
minds  of  many  of  the  Spaniards  that  the  Indians 
were  irrational  beings,  who  consequently  had  no 
more  right  than  the  brute  beasts. 

Finally,  we  must  recognize  that  Negro  slavery 
at  that  time  was  looked  upon  as  just  throughout 
the  world.  It  is  not  strange  therefore  that  the 
Spanish  conquerors  in  New  Spain  should  seek  to 
place  the  Indian  in  the  same  category  as  the 
African  Negro. 

The  Catholic  Church  exerted  its  powerful  in 
fluence  to  protect  the  Indians  from  the  cruelty  of 
the  conquerers.  Fray  Bortolome  de  las  Casas,  the 
noble  Dominican,  and  in  fact  all  the  ministers  of 
the  Catholic  Church  labored  with  all  their  might 
to  improve  the  condition  of  the  Indian.  The  gov 
ernment  of  Spain  aided  them. 

Never  in  the  whole  world  was  there  a  more  fiery 
champion  of  the  rights  of  the  savage  than  Barto- 
lome  de  las  Casas. 

Not  alone  the  Crown,  but  all  the  influential  men 
and  women  of  Spain  favored  him. 

It  was  by  the  aid  of  the  Catholic  missionaries 
that  the  Spanish  government  obtained  from  Paul 
III.  (1537)  the  Bull  which  gave  to  the  Indians 
equal  rights  with  the  white  man,  and  proclaimed 


A   DAUGHTEE   OF    MEXICO  21 

them  capable  of  receiving  the  Christian  faith  and 
the  sacraments.  This  decree  practically  destroyed 
the  pernicious  belief  that  the  Indians  were  irra 
tional  beings. 


CHAPTER  II. 

A  brief  glance  at  the  history  of  Mexico  will 
show  forth  the  benefits  which  the  Catholic  religion 
conferred  on  Mexico,  and  will  make  clear  its 
present  status. 

With  the  capture  of  Cuahutemotzin  (1521)  the 
Aztec  civilization  came  to  an  end.  There  followed 
a  period  of  active  explorations  and  conquests. 

The  Indians  remained  submissive. 

The  priests,  who  came  with  the  Spanish  con 
querors,  could  do  little  during  the  period  of  con 
quest. 

When  peace  was  restored  the  Flemish  Francis 
cans  began  the  work  of  evangelization.  Not 
knowing  the  language  of  the  natives,  the  mission 
aries  could  at  first  do  but  little  among  the  adults. 
They  were  more  successful  with  the  children,  and 
through  these  they  gradually  drew  the  adults,  so 
that  after  a  few  years  most  of  the  natives  were 
baptized. 

In  1528  the  first  bishop,  Zumarraga,  came  to 
Mexico.  Owing  to  the  turbulent  conditions  pre 
vailing  in  Borne,  Zumarraga  came  with  only 
Charles  V.  's  nomination,  and  exercised  his  office 
in  Mexico  for  six  years  before  he  returned  to 
Rome  and  was  duly  consecrated.  He  ruled  the 


A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO  23 

diocese  from  1528  to  1548.  The  diocese  of  Mexico 
extended  in  Ms  day  from  Tampico  on  the  Gulf 
Coast  to  Acapulco  on  the  Pacific. 

When  the  missionaries  came  in  1524  they  found 
not  a  single  Indian  who  could  read.  They  imme 
diately  founded  schools,  and  themselves  learned 
the  Indian  language,  so  that  twenty  years  later 
Bishop  Zumarraga  ordered  the  Catechism  of 
Pedro  de  Cordoba  translated  into  the  Indian 
tongue,  believing  that  it  would  do  much  good, 
1  i  there  are  so  many  who  know  how  to  read. " 
Pedro  de  Gante,  kinsman  of  Charles  V.,  gathered 
about  a  thousand  children  in  the  Convent  of  San 
Francisco  of  Mexico,  and  taught  them  Catechism, 
Music,  and  Latin.  He  also  founded  a  school  for 
adults,  a  church,  a  hospital,  and  also  an  establish 
ment  which  was  a  primary  school,  a  college,  and 
an  academy  of  fine  arts.  And  yet  this  man  was 
only  a  lay  brother  of  the  Franciscans. 

The  other  missionaries  worked  on  similar  lines, 
but  none  equalled  Pedro. 

Bishop  Zumarraga,  zealous  for  the  Indian 's 
highest  good,  opened  for  them  the  College  of 
Santa  Cruz  at  Tlaltelolco,  on  January  6,  1534. 
They  began  with  sixty  pupils,  but  the  number  rap 
idly  increased.  Religion,  reading,  writing,  Latin, 
rhetoric,  philosophy,  music,  and  medicine  were 
taught.  Many  fine  native  scholars  went  forth 
from  this  college. 

An  event  which  aided  much  in  the  conversion  of 


24  A   DAUGHTEK   OF    MEXICO 

the  Mexican  Indians  was  the  vision  of  the  Mother 
of  God  to  a  neophyte  Indian,  Juan  Diego,  fifty-five 
years  of  age,  who  was  going  to  Mass  on  Saturday, 
December  9, 1531. 

It  was  on  the  slope  of  Tepeyac  Hill  near  Mexico 
City  that  the  Virgin  appeared. 

She  bade  Juan  Diego  go  to  Bishop  Zumarraga, 
and  direct  him  to  build  a  temple  where  she  stood. 

The  Blessed  Virgin  appeared  to  Diego  at  the 
same  place  that  same  Saturday  evening,  and  also 
on  the  evening  of  the  following  day,  to  get  the 
bishop's  answer.  But  the  bishop  was  not  at  once 
persuaded  of  the  truth  of  the  vision. 

The  bishop  directed  Juan  Diego  to  ask  a  sign  of 
the  vision  in  proof  of  her  genuine  character. 

On  Monday,  Juan  was  occupied  with  his  uncle 
Bernardino,  who  was  sick  unto  death  of  a  fever. 
All  remedies  had  failed,  and  early  Tuesday  morn 
ing  he  set  out  in  haste  to  fetch  a  priest  from  the 
nearby  Convent  of  St.  James. 

Fearing  that  the  apparition  might  delay  him  he 
strove  to  avoid  it  by  going  another  way.  But  the 
Blessed  Virgin  came  down  to  meet  him,  and  said : 
"What  road  is  this  thou  travellest,  son?" 

Juan  explained  to  her  the  fact  of  the  sick  man ; 
she  spoke  at  some  length  with  Juan,  and  then  ap 
peared  to  the  sick  man,  declaring  that  she  was 
Holy  Mary  of  Guadalupe,  she  healed  him. 

She  then  bade  Juan  to  go  again  to  the  bishop. 

Juan  asked  for  the   sign  as   directed  by  the 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  25 

bishop.  The  loving  words  of  the  Blessed  Virgin 
had  dispelled  all  his  hesitation  and  fear. 

The  Blessed  Virgin  bade  him  ascend  to  some 
rocks  and  there  gather  roses.  It  was  not  the  sea 
son  of  roses,  and  the  place  was  not  fit  for  them. 

Juan  went  and  found  an  abundance  of  roses. 
He  filled  the  lap  of  his  long  cloak  with  them  . 

The  Mother  of  God  arranged  them,  and  directed 
him  to  keep  them  untouched  and  unseen  until  he 
presented  them  to  the  bishop. 

As  Juan  opened  his  cloak  to  present  the  roses 
as  a  sign  to  the  bishop,  the  roses  fell  out  and 
Zumarraga  and  his  attendants  knelt  in  adoration. 
There  on  the  cloak  of  the  Indian  was  the  life-size 
picture  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  as  she  had  appeared 
to  Juan  Diego. 

The  picture  was  first  preserved  in  the  Bishop 's 
Chapel.  A  shrine  was  at  once  built  for  it  as  re 
quested  by  the  Blessed  Virgin,  and  the  picture 
placed  therein.  It  is  three  miles  north-east  of 
Mexico  City. 

This  first  shrine,  finished  in  1532,  served  until 
1622,  when  a  richer  shrine  for  the  picture  was 
erected  in  the  same  place.  Again  in  1709  a  much 
richer  one  was  built,  and  this  with  additional 
buildings  of  the  eighteenth  century  is  the  shrine 
of  today. 

The  picture  is  painted  on  poor,  thin,  open  stuff 
like  sacking. 

The  stuff  was  woven  of  vegetable  fibre,  probably 


26  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

maguey.  The  stitching  is  weak,  and  the  seam  is 
visible  up  through  the  middle  of  the  figure  but 
turns  at  the  face. 

The  figure  is  a  girl  of  fifteen,  in  the  traditional 
pose  of  the  Immaculate  Conception. 

The  chief  color  is  gold  in  the  rays  and  stars, 
blue-green  in  the  mantle,  rose  in  the  flowered  tunic. 

Many  painters  have  examined  the  picture,  and 
none  have  been  able  to  explain  how  the  colors 
could  have  naturally  been  laid  on  such  a  poor  un 
prepared  "  canvas. "  They  find  the  blending  of 
the  colors  and  the  drawing  perfect. 

The  miraculous  picture  of  Guadalupe  has  en 
countered  some  opposition,  but  the  evidence  of  its 
genuineness  seems  to  be  convincing.  Processes  in 
1663,  1666,  1723  and  1750  were  presented  to  Rome 
in  attestation  of  its  authenticity.  The  clergy  have 
been  very  faithful  to  it.  Nineteen  popes  have  ap 
proved  it.  Benedict  XIV.  made  Our  Lady  of 
Guadalupe  the  national  patron  of  Mexico,  made 
December  12  a  holy  day  of  obligation  with  an 
Octave,  and  ordered  a  special  Mass  and  Octave. 

Leo  XIII.  approved  a  complete  historical 
Second  Nocturne,  ordered  the  picture  to  be 
crowned  in  his  name,  and  composed  a  poetical 
inscription  for  it. 

Pius  X.  permitted  all  Mexican  priests  to  say  the 
special  Mass  of  Our  Lady  of  Guadalupe  on  the 
twelfth  of  every  month,  and  granted  indulgences 


A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  27 

throughout  the  world  for  prayers  before  a  copy  of 
the  picture. 

The  miracle  of  Guadalupe  gave  a  great  im 
petus  to  Christianity  in  Mexico. 

In  1553  there  were  in  Mexico  three  principal 
colleges :  a  Franciscan  college  at  Tlatelolco  for  the 
Indians,  another  Franciscan  college  at  San  Juan 
de  Letran  for  the  Mestizos,  and  a  college  with  lay 
teachers  from  Spain  for  Spaniards  and  high  caste 
Creoles. 

In  1575  the  Augustinians  founded  their  cele 
brated  College  of  San  Pablo  for  Spaniards  and 
Creoles. 

About  the  same  time  the  Jesuits  founded  their 
College  of  San  Ildefonso  in  Mexico  City. 

The  Viceroy  D.  Antonio  de  Mendoza  (1635-50) 
took  an  active  interest  in  education  in  New  Spain. 
He  petitioned  Charles  V.  to  found  a  university  in 
Mexico.  The  decree  of  foundation  of  the  univer 
sity  was  signed  in  1551,  and  the  university  was 
opened  June  3,  1553.  It  had  all  the  faculties  and 
privileges  of  the  University  of  Salamanca. 

In  1760  a  library  was  added  which  contained 
over  10,000  volumes. 

The  university  was  closed  by  President  Gomez 
Farias  in  1833.  President  Santa  Anna  reopened 
it  the  following  year ;  but  the  condition  of  Mexico 
at  that  time  was  not  favorable  to  a  university. 
The  golden  age  of  Mexico  had  passed.  The  faith 


28  A   DATJGHTEK    OF    MEXICO 

and  morals  of  the  people  had  suffered  from  skepti 
cism  and  Freemasonry. 

The  university  was  influenced  by  these  evils; 
public  sentiment  was  against  it.  It  had  dete 
riorated  so  that  it  was  no  longer  beneficial  to  the 
nation ;  Maximilian  finally  suppressed  it  in  1865. 

In  the  history  of  the  world  there  never  was  a 
province  better  governed  than  was  Mexico  during 
the  Spanish  sovereignty. 

We  acknowledge  that  in  the  first  Audiencia 
(1528-31)  composed  of  Nuno  de  Guzman,  Juan 
Ortiz  Matienzo,  and  Diego  Degadillo,  the  Emperor 
of  Spain  made  a  mistake.  These  men  were  unjust 
and  cruel  and  all  Mexico  suffered.  The  second 
Audiencia  (1531-35)  was  composed  of  just  and 
able  men,  and  they  effected  lasting  reforms. 

The  kings  of  Spain  donated  much  of  their  tithes 
for  building  and  endowing  churches,  hospitals,  and 
schools  in  Mexico.  They  filled  the  land  with  fine 
churches,  hospitals,  convents,  and  monasteries. 
They  appointed  worthy  bishops,  and  protected  the 
Indians. 

During  the  Spanish  regime  there  were  established 
in  Mexico  the  following  religious  orders  of  men: 
the  Franciscans,  Dominicans,  Augustinians,  Car 
melites,  Brothers  of  St.  James,  Jesuits,  Mercedar- 
ians,  Bethlehemites,  Benedictines,  Oratorians,  and 
Brothers  of  St.  John  of  God. 

The  following  orders  of  women  were  estab 
lished:  the  Poor  Clares,  Capuchines,  Carmelites, 


A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO  29 

Conceptionists,  Cistercians,  Augustinians,  Domin 
icans. 

The  first  printing  press  brought  to  the  New 
World  was  brought  to  Mexico  by  Bishop  Zumar- 
raga  and  the  Viceroy  D.  Antonio  de  Mendoza.  The 
record  of  the  Spanish  kings  in  their  government 
of  Mexico  was  almost  Utopian.  There  were  some 
abuses,  but  these  were  not  attributable  to  the  home 
government  but  to  the  "cursed  distance  that  pre 
vented  (the  Mexicans)  from  enjoying  the  pres 
ence  of  their  king. ' ' 

The  Spanish  kings  also  exercised  great  care  in 
selecting  worthy  men  as  viceroys.  There  were  a 
few  bad  men  in  this  post,  but  most  of  the  viceroys 
were  upright  and  prudent  governors.  As  exam 
ples  we  may  name  Mendoza,  Velasco,  Payo  de 
Kivera,  Juan  de  Acuna,  Bucareli,  and  the  second 
Conde  de  Eevillagigedo. 

Where  do  we  find  a  record  of  any  other  coloniz 
ing  nation  or  of  any  non-Catholic  missionaries 
which  can  compare  in  merit  \vith  the  record  of 
Spain  and  her  Catholic  missionaries  in  Mexico! 

The  American  Revolution,  the  French  Eevolu- 
tion,  and  racial  antipathies  conspired  to  bring  on 
the  Mexican  Revolution.  Miguel  Hidalgo  y  Cos- 
tilla,  native  Indian  parish  priest  of  Dolores,  on 
September  10,  1810,  led  the  revolt  against  Spain. 

He  was  defeated,  captured,  and  executed  at 
Chihuahua,  July  30,  1811. 

Jose  Maria  Morelos,  the  Indian  parish  priest  of 


30  A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO 

Caracuaro,  and  the  native  Indian  priest  Mariano 
Matamoros,  took  up  the  work  for  independence. 

They  recruited  some  four  thousand  ill-armed, 
undisciplined  troops,  and  fought  with  great 
bravery  and  some  measure  of  success. 

On  September  14,  1813,  the  first  independent 
Mexican  Congress  was  assembled  at  Chilpancingo, 
and  decreed,  ' '  That  dependence  upon  the  Spanish 
Throne  has  ceased  forever,  and  has  been  dissolved. 
That  the  said  Congress  neither  professes  nor 
recognizes  any  religion  but  the  Catholic,  nor  will 
it  permit  or  tolerate  the  practice,  public  or  private, 
of  any  other ;  that  it  will  protect  with  all  its  power, 
and  will  watch  over  the  purity  of  the  Faith  and  its 
dogmas,  and  the  maintenance  of  the  regular 
bodies. ' ' 

Reverses  followed.  The  Mexican  Congress  fled 
from  place  to  place.  Matamoros  was  captured, 
and  on  February  3,  1814,  was  shot  at  Valladolid. 

In  the  battle  of  Tesmalaca  Morelos  was  defeated 
and  made  prisoner.  He  was  tried  first  by  the 
military  tribunal  and  then  by  the  Ecclesiastical 
Inquisition  and  condemned  as  a  traitor  to  God,  the 
King,  and  the  Pope,  a  negative  heretic,  and  a  pro- 
faner  of  the  Sacraments. 

On  December  22,  1815,  he  was  shot  at  San 
Cristobal  Ecatepec. 

We  regret  this  act  of  these  tribunals  in  Mexico. 
Morelos  had  been  irregular  in  his  conduct;  but 


A  DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO  31 

clemency  was  due  a  man  who  was  moved  by  his 
patriotic  ideals. 

It  is  a  case  where  the  human  element  in  the 
Church  acted  contrary  to  the  principles  of  the 
Church  which  they  represented. 

We  may  lay  the  full  blame  on  the  Mexican  In 
quisition,  because  at  that  day  the  Inquisition  dom 
inated  all  legal  procedure  in  Mexico. 

Morelos  himself  had  shown  great  cruelty.  He 
had  ordered  a  number  of  prisoners  to  be  shot, 
when  the  viceregal  government  had  refused  to  ex 
change  prisoners  with  him. 

Notwithstanding  this,  the  ecclesiastical  tribunal 
should  have  shown  mercy,  and  spared  the  life  of  a 
man  who  was  impelled  by  the  love  of  his  country. 
Perhaps  the  memory  of  this  act  of  the  ecclesias 
tical  tribunal  in  Mexico  is  a  factor  in  the  present 
unhappy  condition  of  the  land. 

While  we  regret  the  execution  of  Morelos,  we 
must  remember  that  in  all  revolutionary  uprisings 
bitter  passions  are  engendered  and  excesses  are 
committed.  Where  in  all  history  do  we  find  a  more 
despicable  crime  than  the  murder  of  the  Irish 
patriots  by  the  English  government  in  this  year? 
It  is  the  blackest  deed  in  a  long  list  of  England's 
crimes. 

In  some  degree  all  nations  and  all  institutions 
have  failed  to  temper  justice  with  mercy.  Even 
the  Father  of  our  Country  would  have  been  a 


32  A   DAUGHTER   OF   MEXICO 

greater  man  had  he  spared  the  life  of  Major 
Andre. 

In  1817  Janvier  Mina,  a  Spaniard,  made  an  un 
successful  fight  for  Mexican  independence.  He 
was  shot  on  November  11  of  the  same  year. 

Vicente  Guerrero  (1782-1831),  who  had  served 
under  Morelos,  took  up  the  struggle  by  a  sort  of 
guerilla  warfare  for  a  time. 

Augustin  de  Iturbide  (1783-1824),  who  had  dis 
tinguished  himself  by  conquering  Morelos,  was 
made  commander-in-chief  of  the  Spanish  armies 
in  Mexico.  He  saw  at  once  that,  owing  to  popular 
feeling,  independence  in  some  form  must  be 
offered  Mexico.  He  began  to  treat  with  the  revo 
lutionary  leaders,  and  finally  offered  them  the 
celebrated  "Plan  of  Iguala,"  by  which  Mexico 
was  to  have  independence,  provided  a  prince  of 
the  royal  family  of  Spain  were  chosen  emperor. 

Iturbide 's  plan  was  popular,  his  army  grew  rap 
idly,  and  on  September  21, 1821,  he  entered  Mexico 
at  the  head  of  sixteen  thousand  men.  His  plan 
had  virtually  made  him  a  revolutionist  against 
Spain.  The  viceroy  in  Mexico  could  do  nothing 
against  Iturbide 's  growing  power.  The  viceroy, 
O'Donoju,  signed  a  treaty  with  the  insurgents 
adopting  the  * '  Plan  of  Iguala. ' ' 

On  May  18,  1822,  Iturbide  was  proclaimed  Em 
peror,  and  was  crowned  July  21,  1822,  under  the 
title  of  Augustin  I. 

On  December  2,  1822,  Santa  Anna  revolted  and 


A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO  33 

declared  for  a  republic.  He  was  joined  by  Guer 
rero  and  Bravo. 

In  March,  1823,  Iturbide  abdicated  and  was  ban 
ished  to  Italy. 

In  May,  1824,  unaware  that  the  republican  gov 
ernment  of  Mexico  had  outlawed  him,  he  returned 
to  Mexico.  He  was  arrested  and  shot  on  July  19, 
1824. 

After  the  fall  of  Iturbide,  an  executive  council  of 
four  revolutionary  leaders,  Bravo,  Victoria, 
Negrete  and  Guerrero  managed  affairs  during  the 
next  year.  They  assembled  a  congress  which  on 
December  4, 1824,  proclaimed  the  first  constitution 
of  the  Eepublic  of  Mexico.  Guadalupe  Victoria 
was  elected  first  president. 

Freemasonry  now  become  the  dominant  power 
in  the  state  of  Mexico.  The  Scottish  Eite  and 
York  Rite  were  bitterly  opposed  to  each  other. 

With  the  achievement  of  the  independence  of 
Mexico  there  were  formed  two  parties,  the  con 
servative  party  favorable  to  the  Roman  Catholic 
religion,  and  the  liberal  party,  which  was  opposed 
to  the  aforesaid  state  religion.  Ever  since  that 
day  Mexico  has  been  torn  by  the  conflict  between 
these  two  parties.  Many  times  the  leaders  vacil 
lated  between  the  two,  as  advantage  persuaded. 
Santa  Anna  was  sometimes  a  liberal  and  some 
times  a  conservative,  but  always  an  unprincipled 
man. 

In  1822  Joel  Roberts  Poinsett  (1779-1851)  came 


34  A   DAUGHTEE   OF    MEXICO 

from  the  United  States  to  Mexico  on  a  special 
mission. 

The  day  of  his  coming  was  an  evil  day  for 
Mexico. 

He  came  back  again  as  United  States  Minister 
from  1825  to  1829,  and  employed  all  the  power  of 
his  evil  genius  and  his  office  to  promote  Free 
masonry.  Since  that  day  Freemasonry  has  dom 
inated  the  political  history  of  Mexico. 

There  were  dissensions  among  the  lodges,  and 
these  dissensions  were  causes  of  strife  in  the  state. 

In  1828  General  Gomez  Piedragawas  elected,but 
the  opposing  faction  of  the  Freemasons  forced  his 
downfall  and  flight  from  the  country,  January  4, 
1829. 

Guerrero,  who  had  been  the  rival  candidate, 
assumed  the  executive  functions  of  the  govern 
ment. 

In  1829  the  United  States  recognized  the  Repub 
lic  of  Mexico. 

In  the  same  year  Spain  sent  a  military  expedi 
tion  to  reconquer  Mexico  under  General  Barradas. 

He  was  defeated. 

Bustamente,the  vice-president, now  rose  against 
President  Guerrero,  and  deposed  him. 

Though  legally  only  vice-president,  Bustamente 
exercised  all  the  powers  of  president. 

The  land  was  in  continual  tumult. 

Guerrero  was  shot  on  February  14,  1831. 

The  leading  man  in  the  affairs  of  Mexico  for  the 


A   DAUGHTEK   OF    MEXICO  35 

next  twenty  years  was  Santa  Anna  (1795-1876). 
He  had  been  an  adherent  of  Iturbide  in  the  upris 
ing  against  the  Spanish  power.  In  1822  he  turned 
against  Iturbide  and  led  a  rebellion  against  him 
which  forced  Iturbide  to  resign.  He  held  various 
military  offices,  and  in  1832  he  forced  Bustamente 
to  resign,  and  placed  in  office  his  ally,  Pedraza. 

In  1833  Santa  Anna  became  president.  He  was 
really  a  dictator. 

Texas,  then  a  Mexican  state,  seceded  in  1835. 

The  secession  of  Texas  was  mainly  the  act  of  the 
American  colonists  in  the  state. 

Santa  Anna  prepared  to  put  down  by  force  of 
arms  the  insurrection.  After  some  skirmishes, 
Sam  Houston  was  chosen  commander  in  chief  of 
the  Texan  armies,  and  the  war  moved  in  larger 
proportions. 

On  February  23,  1836,  Santa  Anna  with  7,500 
men  invested  the  Alamo,  a  fort  near  San  Antonio. 
After  a  bombardment  of  eleven  days  Santa  Anna 
carried  it  by  storm.  Of  the  whole  garrison  all 
were  put  to  death  except  one  woman,  her  child, 
and  servant. 

Houston  continually  retreated  before  Santa 
Anna  until  he  made  his  final  stand  at  San  Jacinto. 
Here  in  a  bloody  battle  the  Texans  completely 
routed  the  Mexicans  and  captured  Santa  Anna. 

Though  the  Mexican  government  refused  to  ac 
knowledge  the  Republic  of  Texas,  they  were  never 
again  able  to  invade  the  land. 


36  A   DAUGHTER   OF   MEXICO 

There  ensued  a  period  of  anarchy  in  Mexico. 
Leader  succeeded  leader  in  quick  succession.  The 
constitution  was  suspended. 

In  1837  through  the  influence  of  President  Jack 
son  Santa  Anna  was  sent  back  to  Mexico  in  a 
United  States  warship.  He  held  office  as  pro 
visional  president  of  Mexico  from  March  to  July 
of  1859.  Then  Nicholas  Bravo  became  president 
for  a  week. 

Confusion  followed.  Santa  Anna,  Bravo, 
and  Canalizid  were  alternately  at  the  head  of  the 
dictatorship. 

In  1844  constitutional  government  was  resumed, 
with  Santa  Anna  as  president.  In  a  few  months 
he  was  deposed  and  banished  by  revolutionists. 

Canalizio  succeeded  him,  September  20,  1844, 
but  in  December  of  the  same  year  Herrera  deposed 
him,  and  made  himself  president. 

Herrera  was  driven  from  office  by  a  revolution 
on  December  30, 1845.  General  Paredes  succeeded 
him. 

War  now  broke  out  between  the  United  States 
and  Mexico  by  reason  of  the  annexation  of  Texas. 

In  July,  1846,  Santa  Anna  was  recalled  from  ban 
ishment  and  in  December,  1846,  was  made  provis 
ional  president.  Though  a  cripple,  having  lost  a 
leg  fighting  against  a  French  invasion  at  Vera 
Cruz  in  1838,  he  was  undoubtedly  the  strongest 
military  leader  in  Mexico  at  that  time. 

Santa  Anna  took  the  field  against  the  American 


A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO  37 

troops,  but  was  defeated  in  every  battle. 

As  a  result  of  this  war  Mexico  was  obliged  to 
recognize  the  annexation  of  Texas,  and  to  cede  to 
the  United  States  half  a  million  square  miles  of 
territory. 

This  war  which  the  United  States  waged  against 
Mexico,  is  one  of  the  foulest  deeds  of  our  nation 's 
history.  It  created  a  distrust  which  still  resides 
in  the  men  of  all  Latin  America. 

After  the  occupation  of  Mexico  by  General 
Scott,  Santa  Anna  resigned  the  presidency,  and 
after  an  unsuccessful  attempt  to  capture  Pueblo, 
he  went  into  exile  in  Venezuela. 

He  was  recalled  in  1853,  and  was  made  presi 
dent  for  one  year.  During  this  term  he  declared 
himself  president  for  life. 

An  inevitable  revolution  against  him  followed  in 
March,  1854.  After  fifteen  months  of  strife 
against  the  revolutionists,  in  August,  1855,  he  fled 
to  Venezuela,  and  thence  to  St.  Thomas. 

He  came  back  to  Mexico  in  1864,  during  the 
French  invasion,  but  was  driven  from  the  country 
by  Bazaine. 

Ambition  moved  him  to  return  in  1867,  but  he 
was  made  prisoner  and  exiled.  After  the  death  of 
Juarez,  he  returned  to  Mexico  and  died  poor  and 
neglected  in  Mexico  City,  June  20,  1876. 

The  character  of  Santa  Anna  was  unprincipled, 
weak,  and  vacillating,  and  his  effect  upon  Mexico 
was  evil. 


38  A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO 

In  1855  Alvarez  was  chosen  president.  In  De 
cember  of  that  year  he  resigned  in  favor  of 
Comonfort. 

Continual  revolutions  disturbed  the  land. 

In  1858  Benito  Juarez  became  president.  His 
claims  were  contested  by  General  Miramon,  head 
of  the  Clerical  or  Conservative  party.  Civil  war 
ensued.  Juarez  held  Vera  Cruz,  while  the  Con 
servatives  were  in  possession  of  Mexico  City. 

On  the  3rd  of  August,  1860,  the  Liberals  cap 
tured  Mexico  City. 

In  the  attack  of  Mexico  City  the  young  Colonel 
Porfirio  Diaz  (1830-1915)  took  an  active  part. 

He  had  studied  at  the  Pontifical  Seminary  of  the 
City  of  Oaxaca  with  the  intention  of  becoming  a 
priest,  but  after  four  years  in  the  aforesaid  sem 
inary,  he  chose  the  career  of  a  lawyer,  and  in  1849 
entered  the  Institute  of  Sciences  and  Arts  to  com 
plete  his  studies.  One  of  his  professors  was 
Benito  Juarez.  Here  he  became  imbued  with  lib 
eral  ideas,  and  in  1853  abandoned  the  lawyer's 
profession  to  engage  in  a  military  career.  He  was 
brave  and  resourceful  and  took  a  very  active  part 
on  the  side  of  the  Liberals  in  their  fierce  struggle 
with  the  Conservatives. 

The  Conservatives  under  General  Miramon  were 
decisively  defeated  at  Calpulalpam  in  October, 
1860,  by  the  Liberals  under  Gonzalez  Ortega.  By 
this  victory  Juarez  became  president  of  all  Mexico. 

The  last  stand  of  the  Conservatives  was  near 


A   DAUGHTER   OF   MEXICO  39 

the  city  of  Pachuca,  October  20,  1861.  They  were 
again  defeated.  Porfirio  Diaz  was  prominent  in 
this  battle. 

In  1861  France,  England  and  Spain  sent  armies 
into  Mexico  to  enforce  some  claims  against  the 
land.  At  the  request  of  the  United  States  Spain 
and  England  soon  withdrew. 

Napoleon  III.,  however,  made  common  cause 
with  some  of  the  Mexicans  and  prepared  for  war. 

President  Juarez  sent  an  army  against  them  un 
der  Ignacio  Zaragoza.  The  Second  Brigade  was 
commanded  by  Porfirio  Diaz.  Diaz 's  brigade  were 
the  first  to  encounter  the  French  at  Escamela. 
They  fought  bravely,  but  were  forced  to  fall  back 
towards  Puebla.  There  the  whole  Mexican  army 
engaged  the  French  and  defeated  them  May  5, 
1862. 

French  reinforcements  were  sent  by  Napoleon, 
and  again  the  French  advanced  towards  Puebla. 
Zaragoza  had  died;  Ortega  was  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  Mexican  army. 

After  a  siege  of  two  months  Puebla  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  French.  Diaz  was  captured,  but  soon 
after  escaped  and  fled  to  Mexico  City. 

The  Mexicans  were  soon  obliged  to  evacuate 
Mexico  City. 

Marshal  Bazaine  now  assumed  supreme  com 
mand  of  Napoleon 's  troops,  and  laid  siege  to  the 
city  of  Oaxaca.  Diaz  was  its  governor. 

After  a  siege  of  several  days  he  surrendered  and 


40  A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO 

was  made  prisoner.  He  managed  to  escape,  and 
began  again  his  fight  to  repel  the  invaders. 

By  June,  1866,  he  had  a  little  army  under  his 
orders. 

He  fought  successfully  at  Nochixtlan,  Septem 
ber  23,  1866;  at  Miahuatlan,  October  3,  1866,  and 
at  La  Carbonera,  October  18, 1866. 

He  moved  thence  against  the  city  of  Oaxaca, 
which  he  besieged  for  twenty  days. 

It  capitulated  October  31, 1866. 

In  1863  the  Assembly  of  Notables  of  France 
offered  the  crown  of  Mexico  to  Maximilian  (1832- 
67),  younger  brother  of  the  present  Francis 
Joseph,  Emperor  of  Austria.  Unwillingly  he  ac 
cepted  it,  and  entered  Mexico  in  1864.  For  a  time 
all  went  well ;  the  revolutionists  were  defeated  and 
driven  from  Mexico  City  and  the  city  of  Oaxaca. 
In  his  eagerness  to  reconcile  the  Liberal  party, 
Maximilian  refused  to  change  the  "Reform 
Laws,"  touching  the  laicization  of  property,  al 
though  besought  to  do  so  by  Mgr.  Meglia,  the 
Papal  Nuncio. 

Maximilian  failed  to  reconcile  the  Mexican 
parties. 

Juarez  again  raised  the  standard  of  revolt. 

The  United  States  made  it  plain  diplomatically 
to  Louis  Napoleon  that  the  presence  of  a  foreign 
army  in  Mexico  could  not  be  tolerated.  The  cessa 
tion  of  the  Civil  War  in  the  United  States  made  it 


A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO  41 

possible  for  our  country  to  resist  this  violation  of 
the  Monroe  Doctrine. 

Napoleon  withdrew  his  troops  in  1866,  and  re 
quested  Maximilian  to  depart  with  them.  Max 
imilian  nobly  refused  to  abandon  his  following  in 
Mexico.  With  eight  thousand  men  he  prepared  to 
hold  Queretaro  against  the  Liberal  army  under 
Escobedo. 

On  April  2,  1867,  Diaz  took  the  city  of  Puebla. 
The  garrison  unconditionally  surrendered.  They 
were  treated  humanely  as  prisoners  of  war. 

Diaz  next  defeated  the  Conservatives  under 
Marquez  at  the  battle  of  San  Lorenzo  on  April  10, 
1867. 

Diaz  immediately  laid  siege  to  Mexico   City. 

On  May  15,  1867,  Escobedo  took  Queretaro,  and 
made  prisoners  of  Maximilian  and  his  generals, 
Miramon  and  Mejia.  They  were  tried  by  court 
martial,  and  on  June  19,  1867,  they  were  shot. 

On  the  21st  of  June,  1867,  Mexico  City  was 
taken  by  Diaz.  Thus  ended  one  of  the  sad  tragedies 
of  history. 

Diaz  avoided  all  harsh  measures  in  Mexico  City. 
He  administered  affairs  until  Juarez  and  his  Cab 
inet  returned,  July  15,  1867. 

Diaz  returned  to  his  farm,  but  he  was  soon 
called  into  public  life  again. 

Three  candidates  were  proposed  for  the  presi 
dency,  Diaz,  Juarez,  and  Lerdo  de  Tejada.  Civil 
war  on  a  small  scale  ensued. 


42  A   DAUGHTER   OF   MEXICO 

In  1872  Juarez  died,  and  Lerdo  de  Tejada  ob 
tained  the  chief  magistracy  of  the  nation. 

In  1876  Lerdo  de  Tejada  sought  re-election.  Por- 
firio  Diaz  was  the  rival  candidate.  Civil  war  again 
broke  out.  The  fortunes  of  war  for  a  time  were 
contrary  to  Diaz.  There  was  much  desultory 
fighting,  and  Diaz  was  obliged  to  flee  to  the  United 
States.  It  is  said  that  a  price  of  $50,000  was 
placed  on  his  head. 

Diaz  was  a  Freemason,  and  through  Freemason 
influence  he  succeeded  in  obtaining  passage  on  a 
small  ship  which  plied  between  New  Orleans  and 
Vera  Cruz.  The  purser  of  the  ship,  a  Freemason, 
took  Diaz  under  his  protection. 

As  the  ship  neared  Vera  Cruz,  arming  himself 
with  a  dagger  as  defense  against  sharks,  Diaz 
sprang  overboard. 

He  was  observed,  however,  by  a  Mexican  coast 
patrol  and  was  pursued  back  to  the  ship.  The 
purser  by  a  ruse  saved  him. 

When  the  ship  was  being  unloaded  Mexican 
soldiers  watched  it.  The  officers  of  the  ship  pur 
posely  delayed  the  unloading  so  that  it  was  not  fin 
ished  at  nightfall,  and  under  cover  of  darkness 
they  enabled  Diaz,  disguised,  to  escape  in  a  boat. 

Diaz  now  took  up  the  struggle  for  the  presi 
dency. 

A  further  complication  arose  at  this  point.  Jose 
Maria  Iglesias,  chief  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court, 
declaring  the  election  of  Lerdo  de  Tejada  illegal, 


A   DAUGHTEK   OF    MEXICO  43 

proclaimed  himself  in  virtue  of  his  office  the  chief 
executive  of  the  nation.  It  was  again  a  triangular 
contest  among  Lerdo  de  Tejada,  Diaz,  and  Igle- 
sias.  Of  course  there  was  a  revolution. 

Lerdo  de  Tejada  sent  troops  under  General 
Alatorre  to  put  down  Diaz  and  Iglesias.  Public 
opinion  favored  Diaz.  Iglesias  was  soon  aban 
doned  by  his  followers,  and  he  fled  to  the  United 
States.  Diaz  defeated  Alatorre  at  Tecoac.  Lerdo 
de  Tejada  fled  to  New  York,  where  he  spent  the  re 
mainder  of  his  life. 

General  Mendez,  one  of  Diaz's  supporters,  was 
placed  in  charge  of  the  executive  power,  and  at  the 
election  in  December,  1876,  Diaz  was  elected  by  an 
overwhelming  majority. 

A  serious  revolution  against  Diaz  broke  out  in 
1877.  It  was  promptly  suppressed  and  the  leaders 
executed. 

In  the  same  year  General  Escobedo,  a  partisan 
of  Lerdo  de  Tajada,  invaded  Mexico  from  Texas. 
He  and  his  allies  were  defeated  by  Diaz,  who  par 
doned  all  of  them. 

Diaz  was  the  one  redeeming  feature  in  the  gov 
ernment  of  Mexico  since  its  independence.  It  is 
true  that  he  became  a  dictator,  but  Mexico  needs  a 
dictator. 

In  1880  General  Gonzalez  was  nominated.  Diaz 
feared  the  popular  feeling  against  a  second  term 
for  the  president,  and  would  not  accept  the  nom 
ination.  Gonzalez  was  elected,  and  for  the  first 


44  A   DAUGHTEB   OF    MEXICO 

time  in  its  history  administrations  changed  with 
out  a  revolution. 

Diaz  was  made  Secretary  of  Public  Instruction. 
In  May,  1881,  he  resigned.  Soon  after  he  was 
elected  Governor  of  the  State  of  Oaxaca,  his  native 
state. 

In  1884  Diaz  was  again  elected  president  with 
out  opposition.  He  held  this  office  without  oppo 
sition  down  to  the  year  1911,  when  he  was  forced 
to  leave  Mexico  by  Madero. 

Diaz  did  much  for  Mexico.  He  established  her 
credit  abroad  and  developed  her  industries. 
Though  a  Freemason  he  was  favorable  to  the 
Catholic  Church,  well  knowing  that  Mexico  can  not 
develop  her  civilization  without  that  church.  It 
was  because  that  he  contemplated  an  equitable  ad 
justment  of  the  relations  between  the  Catholic 
Church  and  the  state  that  the  unprincipled  Madero 
was  able  to  depose  him. 

We  have  given  this  extended  synopsis  of  Mexi 
can  history  that  the  reader  may  better  judge  the 
present  status  of  Mexico.  The  Catholic  religion 
came  to  the  Mexicans  when  they  were  immersed 
in  their  frightful  idolatry.  It  taught  the  knowl 
edge  of  the  true  God;  it  gave  them  schools,  col 
leges,  churches,  hospitals,  asylums,  a  university. 
Though  at  times  hindered  by  the  Spanish  viceroys 
and  other  officials,  it  achieved  a  conversion  of  the 
whole  people.  Freemasonry  came,  the  "Laws  of 


A   DAUGHTEE   OF   MEXICO  45 

Reform "  came,  and  behold  what  they  have  made 
of  the  Mexican ! 

It  is  pleasing  to  know  that  the  only  ruler  who 
did  anything  for  independent  Mexico  recognized 
the  exclusive  right  of  the  Catholic  Church,  and 
before  his  death  was  reconciled  to  her,  and  died  in 
her  communion. 

Mexico  is  not  a  civilized  country.  The  vast  ma 
jority  of  its  inhabitants  are  illiterate,  nomadic, 
without  any  interest  in  the  government  or  the  in 
stitutions,  and  combine  in  their  character  the  in 
herited  vices  of  their  ancestors  with  the  worst 
vices  which  they  have  learned  from  Euro 
peans  and  Americans.  The  general  plan  of  the 
republic  corresponds  to  ours,  but  in  fact  the 
executive  exercises  a  far  greater  power. 

The  evils  that  have  grown  up  with  time  in  the 
country  are  the  concentration  of  wealth  and  land- 
ownership.  Our  Ambassador  Wilson  declared  that 
ninety  per  cent,  of  the  land  is  in  the  hands  of  ten 
per  cent,  of  the  population.  This  is  probably  true 
of  the  other  wealth  of  the  land.  The  wealth  is  in 
the  hands  of  the  aristocratic  party  called  "Cien- 
tificos, ' '  and  against  these  the  fury  of  the  Revolu 
tionists  is  directed.  Even  the  Freemasons  are 
divided  in  Mexico.  Under  the  Spanish  domination 
the  Scottish  Rite  of  Masonry  had  grown  up  in 
Mexico.  Many  men  of  Spanish  blood  entered  it. 
They  were  of  the  educated  and  propertied  classes. 
But  Joel  Poinsett,  of  evil  memory,  introduced  the 


46  A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO 

York  lodge  (Yorkinos),  which  enlisted  its  mem 
bers  from  the  masses,  and  spread  among  the  com 
mon  people  the  evil  principles  which  the  Scottish 
Lodge  had  disseminated  among  the  aristocracy. 

When  Francisco  Madero  began  to  plot  to  over 
throw  the  government  of  Mexico,  President  Diaz 
was  83  years  of  age.  His  regime  had  been  most 
beneficent  to  Mexico.  In  his  advanced  age  he  pre 
served  the  same  justice  and  high  purpose  of  his 
better  days,  but  his  giant  frame  felt  the  weight  of 
the  burden  of  years. 

Taking  advantage  of  the  physical  weakness  of 
the  great  chief,  Madero  with  financial  aid  from 
New  York  started  the  Eevolution  in  Puebla  No 
vember  16, 1910. 

If  Diaz  had  acted  with  his  former  genius  and 
energy,  Madero 's  attempt  would  have  been 
crushed  in  its  inception.  Its  leaders  aimed  not  at 
reforms,  but  at  spoils.  Diaz  temporized,  and  the 
Kevolution  gained  in  strength.  Skepticism  and 
drunkenness  have  debased  many  of  the  Mexican 
people,  so  that  high  moral  principles  move  them 
but  little. 

The  government  of  Diaz  fell,  and  De  la  Barra 
became  provisional  president.  In  the  election 
which  followed  Madero  was  elected  president.  His 
government  started  out  with  a  platform  of  pure 
democracy,  great  love  for  the  people,  and  a  re 
form  of  agrarian  abuses,  greater  liberty  of  the 


A   DAUGHTEK    OF    MEXICO  47 

press,  and  a  policy  of  conciliation  with  the  bandit 
chiefs. 

Madero  was  inaugurated  on  November  6,  1911. 
Scenes  of  confusion  and  anarchy  attended  the 
gaudy  ceremony.  The  mob  in  the  streets  threw  off 
all  control,  assaulted  members  of  the  diplomatic 
corps,  and  gave  evidence  that  they  recognized  that 
the  necessary  discipline  was  now  relaxed.  The 
national  treasury  was  empty,  disorder  and  law 
lessness  reigned  in  Oaxaca,  Morelos,  Puebla, 
Tlaxcala,  Vera  Cruz,  Guanajuato,  Jalisco,  Zacate- 
cas,  Tamaulipas,  and  Nuevo  Leon.  Madero,  the 
spiritualist  and  dreamer,  could  do  nothing  to  con 
trol  this  lawlessness.  Even  De  la  Barra  himself 
declared  to  the  American  Ambassador,  Henry 
Lane  Wilson,  that  Madero  "was  by  reason  of  his 
peculiar  mentality  incapable  of  adherence  to  sane 
and  sound  principles  of  government "  (Confiden 
tial  letter  of  H.  L.  Wilson  to  Secretary  Knox,  Oc 
tober  27,  1911). 

The  better  classes  of  Mexico's  citizens  were 
never  content  with  Madero.  His  weakness  also  set 
free  the  lawless  element  who  have  nothing  to  lose 
by  a  change  of  government.  Thus  he  was  beset  by 
two  very  different  turbulent  elements.  Though  he 
came  into  power  with  large  promises  of  greater 
liberty,  in  the  latter  days  of  November,  1911, 
Madero 's  government  suspended  the  constitu 
tional  guarantees  in  the  States  of  Morelos,  Tlax 
cala,  Guerrero,  Vera  Cruz,  and  parts  of  Puebla. 


48  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

By  this  act  the  government  confessed  that  it  could 
not  assert  its  authority  in  the  aforesaid  parts. 
The  great  mass  of  the  Mexicans,  owing  to  their  in 
herent  tendencies,  ignorance,  and  defective  train 
ing,  understand  government  only  as  a  strong  cen 
tral  force  which  awes  them  into  subjection.  The 
larger  idea  of  liberty  and  the  socialism  preached 
by  Madero  in  order  to  obtain  the  chief  power  were 
abused  by  the  ignorant  and  lawless  as  a  license  to 
lawlessness  and  brigandage. 

Conditions  became  so  bad  that  on  March  2, 1912, 
President  Taft  issued  a  neutrality  proclamation 
and  put  an  embargo  on  arms.  This  act  was  very 
beneficial  to  Mexico.  Had  it  been  followed  by  a 
similar  consistent  policy,  Mexico  might  have  been 
saved. 

The  Mexican  politician  is  cunning  and  will  read 
ily  resort  to  lying  to  achieve  his  purpose.  When 
Calero,  Mexican  Ambassador  at  Washington  and 
Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs  under  Madero,  re 
turned  to  Mexico  he  made  this  declaration  in  the 
Senate : 

"The  political  situation,  Gentlemen  of  the  Sen 
ate,  is  very  serious,  and  inspires  us  with  profound 
misgivings  respecting  the  future  of  our  country. 
Peace  has  not  been  restored,  and  since  it  has  not 
been  re-established,  it  looks  now  as  if  during  the 
ten  months  I  had  been  lying  to  the  American  gov 
ernment  when  I  assured  it  that  peace  was  a  mat 
ter  of  a  few  weeks.  That  was  my  part,  my  un- 


A   DAUGHTER   OP   MEXICO  49 

grateful  part  which  served  as  a  pretext  for  the 
unmerited  censure  of  a  foe,  who  happens  to  be  at 
the  same  time  Vice-President  of  the  republic.  I 
do  not  deserve  this  censure,  I  swear  it  upon  my 
honor.  Whoever  would  have,  at  the  present  time, 
to  discharge  the  delicate  duties  of  Ambassador  at 
Washington  would  have  to  put  on  a  domino  and 
cover  his  face  with  a  mask  in  order  to  redeem  the 
almost  lost  reputation  of  the  government. ' ' 

The  present  administration  has  believed  these 
lies,  and  both  our  country  and  Mexico  have  suf 
fered  in  consequence. 

Under  the  weak  Madero  the  federal  army  lost 
the  morale  and  discipline  which  characterized  it 
under  Diaz.  The  loyalty  of  Generals  Beltram, 
Blanquet,  and  others  was  secured  by  a  bribe.  The 
Madero  government  also  endeavored  to  bribe  the 
bandit  chiefs.  Dishonesty  dissipated  the  public 
finances,  the  cessation  of  the  industries  threw 
upon  the  country  an  army  of  unemployed,  who 
were  ready  to  follow  the  most  fortunate  rebel 
chief,  the  cabinet  was  split  into  factions,  the  press 
was  muzzled,  state  elections  were  controlled  by 
force,  the  election  of  Delegates  and  Senators  was 
interfered  with,  espionage  was  established,  brig 
andage  increased,  and  thus  the  incompetent  gov 
ernment  of  Madero  fell.  Villa  was  one  of  Ma 
dero  's  "  patriots. "  The  American  Ambassador, 
however,  forced  Madero  to  apprehend  him  for  the 
robbery  of  an  American  estate.  Madero  impris- 


50  A   DAUGHTEE   OF    MEXICO 

oned  Villa,  but  the  latter  escaped  and  returned  to 
his  brigandage. 

It  seems  that  shortly  before  Huerta  came  into 
power  the  federal  government  had  advanced  to 
the  state  of  Chihuahua  a  loan  of  $400,000.  The 
Mexican  press  openly  charged  Carranza  with  mis 
appropriating  some  of  this.  This  seems  to  have 
been  the  prime  factor  in  the  opposition  between 
Huerta  and  Carranza.  Proofs  are  not  at  hand  of 
Carranza 's  guilt,  but  he  surely  feared  punishment 
at  the  hands  of  Huerta. 

One  of  the  great  errors  of  our  time  is  the  failure 
to  distinguish  between  the  divine  and  the  human 
element  in  the  Church.  The  divine  element  is  the 
message  of  God,  perfect  and  unchanging,  the  sanc 
tifying  sacraments,  and  the  ministry  and  regimen, 
divine  in  their  source,  though  exercised  often  by 
weak  men. 

The  weakness  therefore  of  the  instrument  can 
not  be  taken  as  any  proof  that  the  divine  institu 
tion  is  defective.  A  weak  race  may  have  a  weak 
priesthood,  but  they  must  stand  or  fall  on  their 
own  merits ;  the  divine  element  never  fails ;  it  can 
not  fail.  Even  while  Christ  was  organizing  his 
first  band  of  priests  one  of  them  was  plotting  the 
crime  by  which  he  betrayed  the  Redeemer  to 
death.  Even  if  all  the  bishops  and  priests  of  Mex 
ico  were  of  evil  life,  it  would  not  be  any  proof 
whatever  that  the  Catholic  religion  be  not  true, 


A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO  51 

or  that  it  had  not  benefited  Mexico  in  the  measure 
in  which  it  had  been  applied  to  that  land. 

Now  we  are  willing  to  accept  that  the  native 
Mexican  is  a  weak  race.  His  Indian  or  mixed 
blood  is  for  the  most  part  inferior.  There  may 
have  been  failures  in  the  Mexican  clergy,  though 
from  accurate  unbiased  investigation,  the  number 
of  these  failures  seems  to  be  very  small ;  but  it  is 
a  perversion  of  the  truth  to  blame  the  Church  for 
the  evils  which  prey  upon  that  unhappy  land. 

Before  the  so-called  Laws  of  Reform  of  Benito 
Juarez  in  1859,  the  Church  was  teaching  the  In 
dians  religion  and  useful  knowledge.  The  revolu 
tion  of  Juarez  changed  all  this.  The  constitution 
of  1857  decreed  the  separation  of  Church  and 
state.  This  was  in  the  presidency  of  Comonfort. 
Juarez,  who  succeeded  him,  systematized  the  anti 
clerical  laws  into  what  is  known  as  the  "Laws  of 
Reform." 

In  1874  President  Lerdo  de  Tejada  caused  many 
of  the  laws  of  Juarez  to  be  embodied  in  the  consti 
tution. 

Law  of  December  4,  1860,  Art.  8— Right  of 
asylum  in  churches  is  abolished.  Art.  18 — The  use 
of  church  bells  is  to  be  regulated  by  police  ordi 
nance.  Art.  24 — Public  officials  or  troops  of  sol 
diers  are  forbidden  to  assist  in  their  official 
capacity,  at  any  religious  ceremony  or  entertain 
ment  in  honor  of  a  clergymen. 

Law  of  May  13,   1873 — No   religious   rite   or 


52  A   DAUGHTEE   OF    MEXICO 

demonstration  of  any  kind  whatsoever  may  take 
place  outside  of  the  church  building  in  any  part  of 
the  republic. 

Law  of  December  14,  1874,  Art.  3 — No  official, 
official  corporation,  or  body  of  troops  may  attend 
in  an  official  capacity  religious  service  of  any  kind 
whatsoever,  nor  shall  the  government  recognize 
in  any  manner  whatsoever  religious  solemnities. 
All  days,  therefore,  that  do  not  commemorate 
some  exclusively  civil  event  cease  to  be  holidays. 
Sundays  are  set  apart  as  days  of  rest  for  offices 
and  public  institutions.  Art.  5 — No  religious  rite 
may  take  place  outside  the  church  building,  neither 
shall  the  ministers  of  religion,  or  any  individual  of 
either  sex,  of  any  denomination  whatsoever,  wear 
in  public  a  special  dress,  or  insignia  which  would 
characterize  him  in  any  way,  under  penalty  of  a 
fine  of  ten  to  two  hundred  dollars. 

Constitution  of  1857,  Art.  5 — The  State  cannot 
allow  any  contract,  pact,  or  agreement  to  go  into 
effect  that  has  for  its  object  the  impairment,  loss, 
or  irrevocable  sacrifice  of  a  man's  liberty,  what 
ever  be  the  cause,  education,  or  religious  vow. 
Consequently  the  law  does  not  recognize  monastic 
orders,  nor  can  it  permit  their  establishment, 
whatever  be  their  designation  or  object.  Art.  27 — 
Religious  institutions  or  corporations,  what 
ever  their  character,  name,  period  of  exist 
ence,  and  object,  and  such  civil  institutions  as  are 
under  the  patronage,  direction,  or  administration 


A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO  53 

of  these,  or  of  the  ministers  of  any  religious  de 
nomination,  shall  have  no  legal  right  to  acquire 
title  to  or  administer  any  property,  but  such  build 
ings  as  are  destined  for  the  immediate  and  direct 
use  of  said  corporations  and  institutions.  Neither 
shall  they  have  the  right  to  acquire  or  manage 
revenues  derived  from  real  estate. 

Law  of  July  12,  1859,  Art.  5— All  the  male  re 
ligious  orders  which  exist  throughout  the  republic, 
whatever  their  name  or  the  purpose  of  their  exist 
ence,  are  hereby  suppressed  throughout  the  whole 
republic,  as  also  all  archconfraternities,  confrater 
nities,  congregations,  or  sisterhoods  annexed  to 
the  religious  communities,  cathedrals,  parishes,  or 
any  other  churches.  Art.  6 — The  foundation  or 
erection  of  new  convents  of  regular  archconfrater 
nities,  confraternities,  congregations,  or  sister 
hoods,  under  whatever  form  or  name,  is  prohib 
ited;  likewise  the  wearing  of  the  garb  or  habit  of 
the  suppressed  orders.  Art.  7 — By  this  law  the 
ecclesiastics  of  the  suppressed  orders  are  reduced 
to  the  condition  of  secular  clergy,  and  shall  like 
these,  be  subject,  as  regards  the  exercise  of  their 
ministry,  to  the  ordinaries  of  their  respective 
dioceses.  Art.  12 — All  books,  printed  or  manu 
script,  paintings,  antiquities,  and  other  articles 
belonging  to  the  suppressed  religious  communities 
shall  be  given  to  museums,  lyceums,  libraries,  and 
other  public  establishments.  Art.  13 — All  mem 
bers  of  the  suppressed  orders  who,  fifteen  days 


54  A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO 

after  the  publication  of  this  law  in  their  respective 
localities,  shall  continue  to  wear  the  habit  or  live 
in  community  shall  forfeit  the  right  to  collect  their 
quota  as  assigned  by  Article  8,  and  if  after  the 
term  of  fifteen  days  designated  by  this  Article, 
they  should  reunite  in  any  place  and  appear  to  fol 
low  their  community  life,  they  shall  be  immedi 
ately  expelled  from  the  country.  Art.  21 — All 
novitiates  for  women  are  perpetually  closed. 
Those  at  present  in  novitiates  cannot  be  professed. 

Law  of  February  26, 1863,  Art.  1— All  religious 
communities  of  women  are  suppressed  throughout 
the  republic. 

Law  of  September  25,  1873,  Art.  5— The  law 
does  not  recognize  monastic  orders,  nor  can  it  per 
mit  their  establishment,  whatever  their  name  or 
the  object  for  which  they  are  founded. 

Law  of  December  4,  1873,  Art.  19 — Any  relig 
ious  orders  that  may  be  secretly  established  shall 
be  considered  unlawful  assemblies  which  the 
authorities  may  dissolve,  should  the  members  at 
tempt  to  live  in  community,  and  in  all  such  cases 
the  superiors  or  heads  shall  be  judged  criminals, 
infringing  on  individual  rights  according  to  Art. 
973  of  the  Penal  Code  of  the  District,  which  is  de 
clared  in  force  in  all  the  republic. 

Law  of  July  12,  1859,  Art.  1— All  property 
which  under  different  titles  has  been  administered 
by  the  secular  and  regular  clergy,  whatever  kind 
of  property  it  may  be  (taxes,  shares,  or  stocks),  or 


A   DAUGHTER   OP    MEXICO  55 

the  name  or  purpose  it  may  have  had,  becomes  the 
property  of  the  State. 

Law  of  February  5, 1861,  Art.  100— The  govern 
ment  hands  over  all  parochial  residences,  episco 
pal  palaces,  and  dwellings  of  the  heads  of  any  de 
nomination,  declaring  them  inalienable  and  free 
from  taxation,  as  long  as  they  are  reserved  for 
their  own  specific  purpose. 

Law  of  September  25, 1873,  Art.  3 — No  religious 
institution  may  acquire  property  nor  the  revenue 
derived  from  property. 

Law  of  October  10,  1874,  Art.  16— The  direct 
ownership  of  the  churches,  nationalized  according 
to  the  law  of  July  12,  1859,  and  left  for  the  main 
tenance  of  Catholic  worship,  as  well  as  those  which 
have  since  been  turned  over  to  any  other  institu 
tion,  continues  to  reside  in  the  nation;  but  their 
exclusive  use,  preservation  and  improvement,  as 
long  as  no  decree  of  consolidation  is  issued,  re 
mains  with  the  religious  institutions  to  which  they 
have  been  granted.  Art.  17 — The  buildings  men 
tioned  in  the  preceding  article  shall  be  exempt 
from  taxation  except  when  they  have  actually  or 
nominally  passed  into  the  hands  of  one  or  more 
private  individuals  who  hold  the  title  without 
transmitting  it  to  a  religious  society ;  in  such  cases 
the  property  shall  be  subject  to  the  common  law. 

Law  of  December  14,  1874,  Art.  8 — Legacies 
made  in  favor  of  ministers  of  religion,  of  their 
relatives  to  the  fourth  degree,  or  of  persons  living 


56  A   DAUGHTEK   OF   MEXICO 

with  said  ministers  when  they  have  rendered  any 
spiritual  aid  to  the  testators  in  their  last  illness, 
or  when  they  have  been  their  spiritual  directors 
are  null  and  void. 

Law  of  July  23, 1859,  Art.  1 — Marriage  is  a  civil 
contract  that  can  licitly  and  validly  be  contracted 
before  the  civil  authorities.  It  suffices  for  its 
validity  that  the  contracting  parties,  having  com 
plied  with  the  formalities  of  the  law,  present 
themselves  before  the  proper  authority,  and  freely 
express  their  desire  of  being  united  in  marriage. 

Law  of  December  4,  1860,  Art.  20— The  civil 
authorities  shall  not  interfere  in  the  religious  rites 
and  practices  concerning  marriage,  but  the  con 
tract  from  which  this  union  proceeds  remains  ex 
clusively  subject  to  the  laws.  Any  other  marriage 
that  is  contracted  in  the  republic  without  observ 
ing  the  formalities  prescribed  by  these  laws  is 
null,  and  therefore  ineffectual  to  produce  any  of 
the  civil  ends  which  the  law  grants  only  to  a  law 
fully  contracted  marriage. 

Law  of  July  31,  1859,  Art.  1 — The  intervention 
of  the  clergy,  secular  or  regular,  in  the  manage 
ment  of  cemeteries,  vaults  and  crypts,  which  up  to 
the  present  time  has  been  in  force,  ceases  through 
out  the  republic. 

Law  of  December  4,  1860,  Art.  21 — The  govern 
ors  of  states,  districts,  and  territories  shall  exer 
cise  the  strictest  vigilance  for  the  enforcement  of 
the  laws  in  regard  to  cemeteries  and  burial 


A   DAUGHTEB   OF    MEXICO  57 

grounds,  and  in  no  place  shall  decent  burial  be  re 
fused  the  dead,  no  matter  what  may  be  the  de 
cision  of  the  priests  or  their  respective  churches. 

Law  of  February  2,  1861,  Art.  1— All  hospitals 
and  charitable  institutions  which,  up  to  the  pres 
ent  time,  have  been  under  ecclesiastical  authority, 
and  managed  by  religious  corporations  are  sec 
ularized. 

Law  of  February  5,  1861,  Art.  67— Charitable 
institutions  that  were  managed  by  ecclesias 
tical  corporations  or  committees  independent 
of  the  government  are  secularized,  and  placed 
under  the  immediate  supervision  of  the  civil 
authorities. 

Law  of  February  28, 1861,  Art.  1— All  hospitals, 
asylums,  houses  of  correction,  and  charitable  insti 
tutions  which  exist  at  the  present  time,  and  which 
shall  be  founded  in  the  Federal  District,  shall  be 
under  the  protection  of  the  government. 

Law  of  August  27,  1904,  Art.  25 — The  ministers 
of  any  form  of  religion  cannot  act  as  the  directors, 
administrators,  or  patrons  of  private  charity; 
neither  can  officials,  dignitaries  or  religious  corpo 
rations,  nor  anyone  delegated  by  them,  act  in  the 
same  capacity. 

Law  of  December  4,  1874,  Art.  4 — Religious  in 
struction  and  the  exercises  of  any  form  of  religion 
are  prohibited  in  all  federal,  state,  and  municipal 
schools.  Morality  will  be  taught  in  any  of  the 
schools,  when  the  nature  of  their  constitutions 


58  A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO 

\ 

permits  it,  but  without  reference  to  any  form  of 
religion. 

Constitution  of  1857,  Art.  56 — No  member  of  the 
ecclesiastical  body  can  be  elected  a  Congressman 
or  Senator. 

It  is  easy  for  a  citizen  of  the  United  States  to 
judge  the  injustice  of  these  laws.  Our  country  has 
never  restricted  the  right  of  religious  corporations 
to  possess  property,  and  the  state  has  been  bene 
fited  by  their  possessions.  They  have  not  ab 
sorbed  any  undue  amount  of  the  nation 's  wealth; 
and  have  used  what  they  possess  for  the  advance 
ment  of  the  highest  purposes  of  civilization. 

Our  country's  laws  have  never  taken  away  from 
the  priest  his  right  to  inherit  property,  and  no 
harm  has  come  therefrom. 

Our  priests  may  bless  the  bodies  of  the  dead  at 
the  cemetery ;  our  priests  and  nuns  may  wear  what 
decent  garb  they  will  in  public  without  danger  to 
any  of  our  cherished  national  institutions.  There 
is  no  citizen  of  the  United  States  who  would  wish 
to  confiscate  to  the  state  the  property  of  the  Cath 
olic  Church. 

In  the  "Laws  of  Reform"  of  Mexico  we  see  a 
master  effort  of  the  reprobate  spirit  of  the  world, 
which  hated  Christ,  and  will  always  hate  what  is 
of  Christ. 

These  laws  shared  the  fate  of  all  such  laws. 
They  never  were  and  never  could  be  fully  en 
forced.  They  hindered  in  some  measure  the  work 


A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO  59 

of  the  Church,  but  their  glaring  injustice  pre 
vented  them  from  obtaining  the  end  at  Avhich  they 
were  aimed. 

In  Mexico  there  are  eight  Archdioceses,  twenty- 
two  Dioceses,  and  the  Vicariate  Apostolic  of 
Lower  California. 

In  1914  in  the  Archdiocese  of  Mexico  there  were 
four  hundred  secular  priests  and  two  hundred 
priests  of  religious  orders.  In  the  Archdiocese  of 
Guadalajara  there  were  five  hundred  thirty-five 
secular  priests,  fifty-five  priests  of  religious  or 
ders  and  an  Academy  of  the  Ladies  of  the  Sacred 
Heart.  In  this  diocese  every  parish  had  a  Cath 
olic  school.  The  Diocese  of  San  Luis  Potosi  had 
an  Academy  of  the  Ladies  of  the  Sacred  Heart. 
Fifty  nuns  were  in  the  community. 

There  were  twenty  priests  of  religious  orders  at 
Saltillo,  seventeen  religious  brothers,  and  ninety- 
seven  nuns  of  various  orders.  The  Christian 
Brothers  at  Linares  had  twelve  hundred  pupils  in 
their  schools. 

There  were  five  sisterhoods  at  Chiapas.  In  the 
Archdiocese  of  Yucatan  there  were  seventeen 
priests  of  religious  orders  and  ninety-four  secular 
priests.  There  were  thirty-six  Marist  Brothers 
and  ninety  nuns.  In  this  small  archdiocese  of 
about  300,000  Catholic  population  there  were 
nearly  7,000  children  in  the  Catholic  schools.  This 
can  not  be  said  of  any  diocese  in  the  United  States. 
Even  the  Jesuits,  who  like  their  Master  are  "a 


60  A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO 

sign  that  shall  be  contradicted, "  had  important 
educational  institutions  in  many  of  the  cities  of 
Mexico.  Carranza  often  visited  them  and  partook 
of  their  hospitality,  as  Judas  ate  bread  from  Our 
Saviour 's  hand. 

We  see  therefore  that  the  "Laws  of  Reform"  in 
many  of  their  enactments  were  so  unjust  and  in 
jurious  to  the  civilization  of  Mexico  that  they  were 
allowed  to  remain  inoperative. 

All  is  changed  now:  the  ghouls  who,  by  our 
President 's  favor,  hold  the  power  in  Mexico  recog 
nize  no  constitution,  and  no  law  in  their  attack  on 
the  Church. 

Contemporaneously  with  the  "Laws  of  Re 
form  ' '  of  Benito  Juarez,  an  attempt  was  made  by 
the  secret  societies  and  other  anti-Catholic  associa 
tions  to  induce  Juarez  to  declare  that  Mexico 
should  separate  herself  from  Rome,  and  establish 
an  independent  national  church,  whose  first  pon 
tiff,  a  priest  named  Pardio,  should  be  created  by 
the  government.  This  Pardio  had  fraudulently 
obtained  a  Bull  from  Pope  Gregory  XVI.  creating 
him  Bishop  Auxiliary  to  Bishop  Guerra  of  Yuca 
tan.  Pardio  died  suddenly  in  May,  1861,  and  the 
movement  failed. 

In  fact  what  other  institution  has  ever  done 
anything  for  the  real  uplift  of  the  Indian  save  the 
Catholic  Church  f  A  few  years  ago  Senator  Vest, 
a  Presbyterian,  was  appointed  to  investigate  the 
Indian  schools  in  our  Western  States,  and  after  a 


A   DAUGHTER   OF   MEXICO  61 

careful  investigation,  he  declared  on  the  floor  of 
the  United  States  Senate  that  the  only  schools 
which  were  really  benefiting  the  Indian  were  the 
Catholic  schools. 

One  stands  amazed  when  he  contemplates  the 
agencies  which  are  arrayed  against  the  Catholic 
Church  and  the  methods  which  they  use.  The 
campaign  of  the  Jews  against  Christ  is  scarcely 
more  unjust  and  cunning.  The  enemies  of  the 
Church  have  adopted  the  cry  of  Voltaire :  ' l  Fling 
mud ;  some  of  it  will  stick. ' ' 

A  court  of  the  Guardians  of  Liberty,  the  bigoted 
society  which  has  General  Miles  for  its  leader, 
sent  to  Villa  the  following  letter : 

"  Alamo  Court,  No.  1,  Guardians  of  Liberty  of 
Texas,  a  patriotic  organization  of  American  citi 
zens,  with  courts  throughout  the  entire  United 
States,  which  has  for  its  purpose  the  maintaining 
of  the  United  States  Constitution  and  the  com 
plete  separation  of  church  and  state,  desires  to  ex 
press  to  you,  and  other  patriotic  Mexicans,  our 
hearty  approval  of  your  actions  and  the  great 
good  and  service  you  have  and  are  rendering  your 
people  and  the  country. 

"We  would  especially  commend  your  actions  in 
ridding  your  country  of  the  basest  of  human  vul 
tures,  the  Catholic  priesthood.  Whenever  women 
are  forced  to  secretly  confess  to  a  man  who  has 
never  married,  and  knows  nothing  of  the  sacred- 
ness  of  woman  or  of  home,  it  is  but  natural  for  im- 


62  A   DAUGHTEK    OF    MEXICO 

morality  to  exist,  and  until  this  practice  is  stopped 
it  is  impossible  to  raise  up  a  liberty-loving,  intelli 
gent,  patriotic,  moral  generation. 

"  Again  assuring  you  of  our  appreciation  of 
your  invaluable  worth  to  your  country,  and  trust 
ing  that  you  may  continue  your  good  work  until 
the  people  of  your  country  are  freed,  indeed,  from 
the  root  of  the  trouble,  the  Roman  Catholic 
Church,  in  the  language  of  the  patriot,  we  would 
exclaim,  'Viva  Mexico  by  Villa  I9  " 

This  declaration  reveals  the  minds  of  men  con 
firmed  in  evil.  It  is  allowed  to  a  Protestant  to  ex 
amine  the  validity  of  the  doctrine  of  confession, 
but  to  calumniate  an  institution  which  by  divine 
power  has  been  preserved  even  from  failures 
which  have  occurred  in  other  departments  of  the 
Church,  through  the  frailty  of  man,  is  to  impugn 
the  known  truth. 

To  defend  the  Catholic  religion  we  need  not  de 
fend  Cortes  or  Spain.  Learned  historians  return 
a  very  severe  verdict  on  Cortes.  He  was  cruel, 
ambitious,  and  avaricious.  In  fact  it  seems  now 
quite  certain  that  he  murdered  his  first  wife. 

Spain  sometimes  may  have  exploited  Mexico  for 
its  own  profit.  She  sent  some  undesirable  priests 
there  to  get  them  out  of  Spain.  But  notwithstand 
ing  these  adverse  causes,  Spanish  civilization 
vastly  benefited  Mexico ;  for  it  gave  it  a  knowledge 
of  the  true  religion,  and  the  vast  majority  of  Mexi- 


A   DAUGHTEB   OF    MEXICO  63 

can  bishops  and  priests  have  always  been  faithful 
to  their  calling. 

Last  year  the  Carranzistas  published  an  accusa 
tion  of  rape  against  Kev.  Vincente  Latorre.  The 
victim  was  said  to  be  Miss  Josefine  Pimental. 
Touching  this  charge  the  American-Mexican  secu 
lar  paper  El  Presente,  in  its  issue  of  November  7, 
1914,  has  this  vigorous  denial : 

"We  have  taken  pains  to  investigate  this,  and 
information  shows  that  it  is  untrue.  Accusations 
of  all  kinds  directed  to  the  clergy  in  Mexico  are  all 
too  frequent,  and,  for  reasons  or  pretext  always 
unfounded,  the  Carranzistas  have  exiled  them. 
Let  us  not  forget  the  accusation  made  of  finding 
arms  and  ammunition  in  the  temple  of  Santo  Do 
mingo,  which  was  found  to  be  a  great  untruth  and 
which  the  Carranzistas  themselves  had  to  correct. 

1 '  This  is  not  a  religious  organ,  nor  have  we  any 
political  agreement  with  the  Church,  but  we  aim  to 
be  defenders  of  truth  and  justice,  and,  therefore, 
believe  the  action  of  our  colleagues  a  little  hasty  in 
accepting  scandalous  and  untrue  reports  such  as 
these. 

"As  regards  Miss  Pimental,  we  are  assured  that 
she  is  not  known  in  Mexico. ' ' 

We  have  taken  this  testimonial  from  the  re 
markable  brochure  entitled  '  '  The  Book  of  Red  and 
Yellow, ' '  by  Eev.  Francis  Clement  Kelly.  We  are 
indebted  to  him  for  many  of  the  facts  which  ap 
pear  in  our  book.  His  remarkable  work  is  docu- 


64  A   DAUGHTEK   OF   MEXICO 

mentary,  and  should  be  in  the  hands  of  every 
American. 

Another  testimony  that  we  take  from  him  is  that 
of  a  certain  liberal  governor  who  resigned  his  gov 
ernorship  because  he  objected  to  Huerta's  meth 
ods.  He  declares :  ' l  In  order  that  you  may  under 
stand  that  I  am  not  untruthful  and  that  I  am  not 
partial  to  priests,  I  will  state  that  in  politics  I  be 
long  to  the  Benito  Juarez  party  and  I  was  always 
recognized  as  a  member  of  the  Liberal  party.  I 
have  tried  to  practice  the  greatest  respect  toward 
the  Catholic  religion,  and  I  know  for  certain  that 
the  priests  of  my  state,  after  having  suffered 
various  vexations,  and  this  without  any  motive  or 
reason,  have  been  exiled.  We  have  had  the  good 
fortune  of  never  having  heard  any  scandal  on  the 
part  of  any  of  our  clergy.  The  same  may  be  said 
of  the  other  religious  sects.  I  repeat  that  never  in 
any  revolution  has  Mexico  witnessed  such  barbar 
ous  excesses  as  in  the  present  uprising,  and  I 
speak  as  one  having  experience,  for  I  witnessed 
two  and  I  fought  on  the  side  of  Juarez.  Today 
there  is  no  respect  for  any  of  the  political  divis 
ions,  or  any  religious  body  in  Mexico.  To  me  any 
man  who  is  honest  has  a  right  to  be  respected,  be 
he  Catholic,  Protestant  or  Jew.  One  may  think 
"pro"  or  "con"  about  some  ideas,  but  about 
stealing  and  killing  there  must  be  only  one  opinion. 

' '  As  regards  the  clergy,  they  have  no  power,  no 
chance  to  favor  rich  people  rather  than  the  poor. 


A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO  65 

Besides,  the  greater  part  of  the  clergy  in  Mexico 
comes  from  the  poorer  classes.  Furthermore,  the 
idea  of  morality  and  justice  is  prevalent  in  the 
minds  of  our  priests. " 


CHAPTER  III. 

The  country  lying  between  the  cities  of  Vera 
Cruz  and  Mexico  City  has  been  justly  said  to  con 
tain  more  natural  attractions  than  any  other  equal 
area  in  the  world.  From  the  tropical  flora  of  the 
Gulf  Coast  one  passes  through  an  amazing  variety 
of  life  until  one  reaches  the  mighty  peak  of 
Orizaba,  about  seventy-five  miles  from  the  coast. 
Here  eternal  winter  prevails. 

On  an  afternoon  in  the  year  1914  in  front  of  a 
small,  decent  dwelling  that  stood  at  the  end  of  a 
lane  leading  into  the  main  road,  sat  an  Indian  of 
perhaps  sixty  years  of  age.  He  struck  the  be 
holder  at  once  as  being  an  extraordinary  man. 
His  brow  was  broad  and  high  and  an  air  of  depth 
and  of  great  intelligence  emanated  from  his 
bronzed  and  wrinkled  face.  A  mysterious  sadness 
possessed  him:  he  never  smiled.  Though  the  ap 
proach  of  age  was  perceptible  in  his  face  and  form, 
he  still  gave  evidence  of  mighty  strength.  Not 
withstanding  his  air  of  mystery,  the  man  inspired 
confidence;  he  seemed  a  noble  type  of  primeval 
man. 

Near  the  sitting  man  stood  a  young  man  of 
about  twenty-two  years  of  age.  He  was  dressed 
in  riding  costume,  and  wore  the  usual  broad  som- 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  67 

brero.  He  was  a  pure  blood  Spaniard  of  the  finest 
type.  His  form  was  erect,  powerful,  yet  lithe  and 
supple.  His  forehead  was  very  high  and  broad, 
and  his  large  intelligent  eyes  had  an  expression  of 
great  force  combined  with  deep  tenderness.  He 
stood  with  his  arm  thrown  over  the  glossy  neck  of 
a  powerful  black  mare,  who  was  pressing  her 
head  lovingly  against  his  broad  breast,  eager  to  be 
caressed  by  her  master. 

One  could  see  at  once  that  a  deep  bond  of  sym 
pathy  existed  between  the  man  and  the  noble 
horse.  Whenever  any  sudden  noise  broke  the  still 
ness  of  the  scene,  the  mare  quickly  raised  her 
head,  which  caused  a  fine  flourish  of  her  beautiful 
mane,  and  standing  proudly  erect  she  scanned  the 
surrounding  region,  ready  to  serve  her  master  in 
any  need. 

At  the  moment  of  which  we  write  the  man 
seemed  unconscious  of  the  manifestations  of  the 
mare's  affection.  His  fine  features  were  moulded 
into  an  expression  of  deep  thought  tinged  by  sad 
ness,  and  it  was  evident  that  words  had  been  ut 
tered  by  him  that  had  brought  upon  the  older  man 
a  similar  state  of  soul. 

A  remarkable  fact  was  that  though  the  young 
man  was  of  purest  Spanish  blood  he  addressed 
the  older  man  as  father. 

" Father, "  he  said,  "many  a  time  you  have 
promised  to  tell  me  the  mystery  of  my  origin.  You 
have  reared  me  tenderly,  and  have  given  me  ad- 


68  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

vantages  which  were  purchased  by  hard  and  un 
remitting  toil.  Mother  Benita  has  given  me  all 
that  any  mother  could  give.  I  love  you  with  all 
the  love  that  a  child  can  give  the  best  parents.  I 
love  Joseph  and  Lucy,  my  brother  and  sister. 
Nothing  that  you  could  tell  me  would  change  my 
love;  but  I  am  now  a  man,  and  over  me  hangs  a 
deep  mystery.  If  I  could  have  lived  unconscious 
of  the  fact  that  I  am  not  of  your  blood,  I  could 
have  been  happy.  But  the  fact  of  my  different 
parentage  can  not  be  hid.  I  must  take  my  station 
in  the  world,  and  live  among  men,  who  demand  to 
know  my  birth ;  and  if  it  can  not  be  revealed  they 
will  asperse  my  name.  If  my  origin  be  tainted 
then  I  must  become  a  wanderer  and  a  stranger  to 
men.  My  love  of  you  shall  endure,  but  my  nature 
can  not  endure  the  shame  of  being  a  man  without 
a  name.  Even  though  the  thought  were  never  ut 
tered,  I  should  see  it  in  the  faces  of  men.  Tell  me 
my  origin :  the  suspense  is  devouring  me. ' ' 

At  the  impassioned  speech  of  the  young  man 
twenty  years  seemed  to  be  added  to  the  old  Indian's 
age.  His  face  was  of  the  color  of  ashes ;  his  head 
sank  into  his  trembling  right  hand ;  his  teeth  were 
clenched ;  and  his  breathing  became  slow  long  sobs. 
The  young  man  gazed  a  moment  at  the  mute  suf 
fering  of  the  crumpled  limp  form,  and  then,  while 
mighty  convulsive  sobs  shook  his  own  form,  he 
advanced  and  throwing  himself  on  his  knees  be 
fore  the  man  whom  he  called  father,  he  laid  his 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  69 

head  tenderly,  as  might  a  little  child,  on  the  breast 
of  the  old  Indian. 

The  mare  came  up  slowly  sniffing  the  ground, 
and  pressed  her  nose  in  dumb  sympathy  first 
against  the  face  of  one  and  then  against  the  face 
of  the  other  of  the  men. 

The  young  man  broke  the  silence:  " Forgive 
me,  Father;  I  do  not  now  ask  for  that  wrhich  I  a 
moment  ago  importuned.  We  shall  go  together 
into  some  land  where  we  shall  be  unknown.  We 
shall  live  unknown  among  men ;  we  shall  do  all  the 
good  which  our  lives  may  have  power  to  accom 
plish,  and  await  the  judgment  of  (rod,  who  can 
cancel  even  the  stain  of  birth. ' ' 

The  words  of  the  young  man  were  intended  to 
calm  the  mighty  grief  of  the  other.  Their  first 
effect  however,  seemed  to  be  to  agitate  him  more. 
He  arose  trembling,  and  with  voice  broken  by 
gasps,  he  declared:  "Leon,  we  stand  in  the  pres 
ence  of  the  living  God;  and  by  that  God  I  swear 
that  no  man  in  all  this  land  is  of  more  honorable 
birth  than  you."  A  wild  joy  seized  the  young 
man:  he  threw  his  strong  arms  about  the  old  In 
dian  and  clung  to  him  in  an  ecstasy  of  joy.  He 
could  not  express  his  feelings :  one  could  see  that 
he  valued  his  honor  above  his  life. 

A  short  period  of  silence  ensued,  and  then  the 
young  man  spoke  again :  1 1  My  Father,  you  have 
lifted  out  of  my  life  a  mighty  sorrow,  which  began 
with  the  dawn  of  reason,  and  has  grown  in  pain 


70  A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO 

till  it  blinded  my  soul.  I  ask  to  know  no  more :  I 
am  a  man  now  among  men.  I  care  not  for  wealth, 
I  care  not  for  anything  external  to  my  real  self :  I 
care  only  for  honor.  Father,  you  may  wonder  why 
this  pent  up  desire  to  know  my  birth  finds  such 
passionate  expression  today.  Yesterday  as  I  rode 
homeward  from  the  herds  there  was  revealed  to 
me  a  vision  of  a  woman  that  has  filled  my  soul  with 
one  overmastering  thought,  love.  She  is  present 
now,  her  eyes  will  never  leave  me.  All  through  the 
watches  of  last  night  I  saw  her:  sometimes  she 
seemed  to  call  to  me  to  help  her.  She  seems  to 
touch  this  earth  lightly,  as  a  soul  in  bliss  might 
appear  in  seeming  body.  All  the  glory  of  woman 
hood  is  enshrined  in  her :  she  transcends  the  ideals 
of  da  Vinci,  Raphael,  Murillo  and  Velasquez.  And 
that  soul  yesterday  looked  into  my  soul  and  cre 
ated  in  me  a  new  being.  The  thought  of  her  in 
spires  noble  purposes.  Were  a  base  desire  to  as 
sail  me,  it  would  perish  in  an  instant  by  the 
thought  of  her.  I  feel  that  she  belongs  to  Heaven, 
and  that  I  must  put  on  immortality  before  I  could 
be  worthy  of  her  companionship. 

' l  She  was  driven  in  a  carriage  seated  by  the  side 
of  her  father.  The  spirited  horses  took  fright  at 
the  sudden  flight  of  a  bird,  and  the  unskilful  driver 
lost  control  of  them.  Seeing  their  danger  I  rode 
up  swiftly  and  seized  the  bridle  of  the  near  horse. 
I  was  soon  able  to  subdue  and  calm  the  frightened 
animals,  and  for  greater  safety  I  rode  ahead  of 


A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO  7l 

them  to  the  gate  of  their  dwelling.  She  lives  in 
the  great  manor  house  of  the  Hacienda  de 

L .     She    is    Miriam,    the    daughter    of    Es- 

taban  de  M .     As  I  was  about  to  take  my 

leave  of  them,  father  and  daughter  with  profound 
expressions  of  gratitude  advanced  and  extended 
their  hands.  As  that  white  hand  lay  tranquilly  in 
my  right  hand,  I  felt  that  some  mysterious  destiny 
binds  us  together.  Holding  her  hand  I  became 
oblivious  of  time  and  place,  and  reverently  held 
her  hand  so  long  that  with  some  timidity  she 
gently  disengaged  it,  and  nestled  closer  to  her 
father.  He  must  have  understood  that  I  meant  no 
evil,  for  he  presented  me  his  card.  I  am  not  prac 
tised  in  the  usages  of  polite  society,  but  I  realized 
that  the  proper  convention  of  society  demanded 
that  I  should  make  known  my  identity.  But  I 
could  not.  I  have  no  name ;  but,  my  Father,  sor 
row  not  for  that.  What  I  felt  most  was  the  haunt 
ing  dread  that  my  origin  were  in  dishonor.  Were 
that  true  I  should  feel  unworthy  to  think  of 

Miriam  de  M .     But  you  have  dispelled  that 

cruel  dread.    I  can  never  enter  the  social  world  in 

which  Miriam  de   M lives;   but  her  bright 

vision  will  go  with  me  always  as  an  inspiration  to 
do  what  is  best ;  and  in  that  better  life  that  awaits 
us  I  may  hope  that  by  the  grace  of  God  my  deeds 
may  remove  the  barriers  which  the  usages  of  men 
have  here  established  in  society.  For  now,  Father, 
hear  my  resolve.  Kneeling  in  the  presence  of  God, 


72  A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO 

I  dedicate  my  life  to  the  service  of  God  and  my 
Country.  I  know  not  now  how  I  may  serve  this 
purpose,  but  the  times  demand  men  who  shall  put 
right  before  everything  else,  even  life  itself.  With 
such  absolute  allegiance  I  offer  my  life  and  all  my 
powers  to  the  service  of  my  God  and  my  Country. 
"Evil  days  have  come  upon  Mexico,  and  I  be 
lieve  that  the  sins  of  our  people  have  provoked  the 
just  God  to  strike.  The  great  world-plague  of 
skepticism  has  invaded  our  land,  has  penetrated 
even  into  the  ranks  of  the  anointed  of  the  Lord 
and  the  cloistered.  Its  deadly  blight  is  not  upon 
all,  but  yet  upon  many ;  and  even  many  who  seem 
still  faithful  believe  with,  a  halting,  hesitating, 
questioning,  half-doubting  faith.  Men  doubt,  and 
are  frightened  by  the  consciousness  that  they 
are  doubting.  Faith  offers  but  little  to  a  man 
whose  nature  is  too  low  and  bestial  to  appreciate 
the  things  of  faith.  There  are  many  such 
in  our  land.  They  are  like  the  Israelites 
of  old,  who  were  drawn  more  by  the  flesh-pots 
of  Egypt  than  by  the  promise  of  a  country  flowing 
with  milk  and  honey.  They  have  lost  reverence 
for  holy  things,  for  the  sacraments,  and  for  the 
priesthood.  The  religion  which  St.  Paul  calls 
4 the  foolishness  of  the  cross'  is  become  to  them 
contemptible ;  for  the  same  spirit  which  made  the 
Christian  religion  appear  *  foolishness '  to  the  Gen 
tiles  has  seized  many  of  our  nation;  yea  it  is  the 
mighty  spirit  of  the  world  today. 


A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO  73 

"The  causes  of  religious  decay  today  are  the 
same  as  those  so  powerfully  analyzed  by  St.  Paul 
in  his  day.  'Now  the  natural  man  receiveth  not 
the  things  of  the  spirit  of  God :  for  they  are  fool 
ishness  unto  him;  and  he  cannot  know  them,  be 
cause  they  are  spiritually  judged. ' — I.  Cor.  II.  14. 
What  part  of  our  nation  feels  this  necessary  es 
sential  dependence  on  the  spirit  of  God? 

"It  is  true  Christ  has  a  following  in  our  land, 
whom  He  knows  and  who  know  Him,  but  they  are 
but  a  remnant  of  the  people.  The  true  Christian 
must  be  an  exceptional  man. 

'  *  I  am  also  weak  and  imperfect ;  but  even  I  am 
estranged  from  most  of  the  men  of  my  acquain 
tance  by  reason  of  their  liberal  views  on  religion. 
To  believe  with  a  firm  faith  and  to  fashion  one's 
life  according  to  the  firm  foundation  of  faith  is 
now  held  by  the  spirit  of  the  world  to  be  a  crime. 

"When  I  read  of  the  prophets  of  old,  through 
whom  God  did  great  things,  my  soul  aspires  to  do 
some  great  achievement,  and  I  offer  myself  wholly 
to  serve  my  God;  but  His  will  has  not  yet  been 
made  known  to  me.  Can  this  bright  vision  of 
woman  be  a  part  of  the  divine  plan?" 

The  old  man  had  become  very  calm,  but  the  ex 
pression  of  his  face  showed  that  the  depths  of  his 
soul  had  been  moved  by  the  words  of  the  man  who 
called  him  father.  After  a  pause  the  old  man 
spoke :  ' '  Listen  in  silence,  and  I  will  tell  you  all, 
but  my  words  are  for  you  alone. 


74  A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO 

' '  For  more  than  fifty  years  our  Country  has  been 
guilty  of  oppression  of  the  Catholic  Church.  Your 
father  and  your  angel  mother  were  descended 
from  the  best  blood  of  Spain.  Being  richly  en 
dowed  by  nature  and  by  fortune,  your  father  first 
sought  to  combat  the  enemies  of  our  faith  in  his 
mother  country,  Spain.  Confiscation  of  his  goods 
and  exile  followed.  With  his  fair  young  bride, 
who  shared  his  virtue  and  his  courage,  he  came  to 
this  land.  His  enemies  conspired  with  the  Liberals 
of  Mexico  to  ruin  him.  A  price  was  set  on  his 
head.  He  was  compelled  to  flee  to  the  mountains, 
and  there  I  found  him  a  dying  man.  He  trusted 
me,  and  commended  to  my  poor  protection  his 
young  spouse  and  the  child  at  her  breast.  Risking 
my  life  I  came  down  from  the  mountains  and 
brought  a  Catholic  priest  to  the  dying  man.  There 
in  the  lonely  cave  your  father  received  the  last 
sacraments,  and  his  last  words  were:  '0  my 
Saviour,  forgive  all  who  have  done  me  injury;  0 
Jesus,  have  mercy  on  me. ' 

' i  The  priest  and  I  watched  in  prayer  by  the  side 
of  the  dead  through  the  long  night.  The  next  day 
I  buried  the  body  there  in  the  wild  loneliness  of  the 
mountains.  I  set  a  mark  on  the  spot,  and  oft  have 
T  gone  thither  to  pray  for  that  noble  soul. 

"Following  the  advice  of  the  dying  man  I  took 
your  mother  and  gave  her  into  the  care  of  my 
faithful  Benita;  but  sorrow  soon  consumed  her 
life.  She  faded  away  without  pain  or  a  struggle ; 


A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO  75 

and  when  she  realized  that  she  was  summoned  by 
death,  she  drew  Benita  to  her  and  asked  her  to 
care  for  her  baby,  and  to  lead  him  in  the  steps  of 
his  father. 

'  '  0,  she  was  beautiful ! 

"  After  the  Holy  Viaticum  she  never  spoke 
again,  but  a  sweet  smile  came  into  her  face,  and 
remained  there  in  death. 

"Benita  prepared  the  body  for  burial,  and  we 
bore  it  two  days  journey  up  into  the  mountains 
and  placed  it  beside  her  beloved  husband.  In  the 
great  silence  of  the  mountains  they  lie  together 
awaiting  the  judgment  day,  when  God  shall  call 
them  to  that  reward  of  which  they  are  most 
worthy.  I  was  a  poor  man,  but  owing  to  the  good 
Franciscan  Fathers,  I  had  been  taught  to  read.  I 
loved  you  as  my  own  child.  You  were  tenderly 
nursed  by  mother  Benita,  and  when  you  were  able 
to  learn  I  taught  you  the  first  rudiments.  Then, 
as  I  was  unable  to  send  you  to  college,  I  entrusted 
your  education  to  the  priests.  They  have  taught 
you  well.  You  are  now  the  peer  of  the  most 
favored  sons  of  our  land.  Were  our  country  at 
peace,  you  could  choose  any  profession ;  but  in  the 
present  state  of  things  we  can  only  wait,  for  there 
is  no  leader  of  our  people.  Those  who  lead  the 
rival  factions  are  miscreants  and  scoundrels. 
They  attract  to  their  standards  the  lawless  hordes 
who  are  drawn  by  the  lust  of  rape  and  plunder. 
The  leaders  respect  no  law,  and  impose  no  disci- 


76  A   DAUGHTEK    OF    MEXICO 

pline  on  their  lawless  troops.  When  the  Carran- 
zistas  took  Durango  they  arrested  that  holy  old 
man,  the  Archbishop,  and  demanded  as  his  ransom 
$500,000.  As  he  could  not  pay  the  ransom  they 
flung  him  into  prison,  exiled  his  clergy,  closed  the 
churches.  Pious  persons  collected  what  they 
could,  and  as  the  robbers  could  get  no  more,  the 
venerable  Archbishop  was  released;  but  again  at 
Morelia  they  arrested  him,  and  forced  another 
offering  from  pious  Christians.  Today  that  ven 
erable  man,  against  whom  they  could  bring  no 
charge,  is  an  exile. 

"In  the  cathedral  the  Carranzistas  broke  open 
the  tombs  and  scattered  the  remains  in  their  wild 
search  for  treasures.  Wherever  they  found  any 
one  whom  they  believed  could  pay  a  ransom  they 
arrested  him  and  threw  him  into  prison.  The 
churches  were  horribly  profaned,  and  religious  of 
unblemished  character  were  insulted  and  out 
raged.  But  I  fear  that  the  reign  of  terror  is  only 
beginning.  A  sorrowful  presentiment  is  upon  me 
that  Mexico  must  pass  through  a  fearful  crisis. 

"When  you  demanded  to  know  your  origin  I 
felt  that  the  revelation  would  take  you  from  me, 
and  the  thought  shook  my  whole  being.  You  are 
more  to  me  than  a  child.  The  spirits  of  those  who 
sleep  in  those  graves  in  the  mountains  seem  to  be 
enshrined  in  you.  Now  that  you  know  the  nobility 
of  your  birth  it  is  hardly  to  be  expected  that  you 
will  cherish  for  a  poor  Mexican  Indian  the  old  feel- 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  77 

ing  of  love.  But  at  least  let  me  know  that  you  be 
lieve  that  I  have  been  faithful  to  my  promise  to 
your  departed  father.  And  now  come  with  me  and 
I  shall  deliver  to  you  the  only  inheritance  which 
your  father  left  to  you. ' ' 

As  the  old  man  rose  to  lead  the  way  to  their 
dwelling  the  young  man  caught  his  shoulder. 

"Father,  tell  me,  am  I  truthful  I" 

"Very  truthful,"  the  old  man  replied  with  en 
ergy. 

"Then  believe  a  truthful  man's  words,  when  I 
say  that,  though  I  am  another's  son,  and  though  a 
new  worshipful  love  has  entered  my  soul — the  love 
of  my  good  parents — it  has  taken  nought  from  my 
strong  love  for  you.  You  are  still  my  father,  and 
the  mercy  you  showed  my  dear  parents  increases 
my  love  of  you;  and  I  wish  you  and  my  mother 
Benita,  Joseph  and  Lucy  with  me  in  time  and  in 
eternity. ' ' 

An  expression  of  deep  joy  dislodged  the  sorrow 
which  had  blanched  the  old  Indian's  face.  He 
caught  the  young  man's  hand,  and  drew  him 
swiftly  towards  their  dwelling. 

But  a  cry  and  the  sound  of  the  galloping  of 
horses  caused  both  men  to  halt  and  face  the  main 
road.  A  young  woman  on  horseback  was  riding 
at  utmost  speed  down  the  road,  and  in  close  pur 
suit  was  a  mounted  Carranzista. 

The  woman  was  aware  that  the  soldier  was  gain 
ing  on  her,  and  this  realization  filled  her  with  mad- 


78  A   DAUGHTEB   OF    MEXICO 

clening  terror.  Her  horse  showed  signs  of  f atigue, 
and  in  a  moment  a  crisis  must  ensue. 

With  one  bound  Leon  was  in  the  saddle.  A 
word  to  Black  Bess,  his  faithful  mare,  and  she  was 
darting  towards  the  fleeing  woman,  as  though  her 
dumb  instinct  made  her  conscious  that  a  wrong 
was  to  be  averted.  In  a  moment  Leon  reached  the 
woman's  side,  and  motioning  her  to  ride  into  the 
lane  up  to  their  dwelling,  he  dashed  onward  and 
confronted  the  mounted  soldier. 

The  horses  crashed  in  collision,  and  the  soldier 's 
mount  recoiled  back  on  its  haunches.  Black  Bess 
seized  the  neck  of  the  struggling  steed,  and  buried 
her  teeth  deeply  in  the  flesh.  The  soldier  was 
heavily  armed.  He  was  not  unhorsed  by  the  im 
pact  ;  and  now  with  a  horrible  oath  he  drew  a  large 
calibre  revolver  from  his  belt,  and  endeavored 
meanwhile  to  steady  his  writhing  steed  in  order  to 
direct  his  fire.  Leon  was  unarmed.  He  had  never 
been  a  man  of  violence,  and  though  in  accordance 
with  the  customs  of  his  country,  he  was  practised 
in  the  use  of  arms,  and  sometimes  carried  a  re 
volver  and  belt  of  cartridges,  today  he  was  without 
any  means  of  defense. 

Instantly  he  saw  his  danger,  and  clapping  his 
spurless  boots  fiercely  against  the  flanks  of  Black 
Bess  he  caused  her  to  spring  forward  with  a 
mighty  bound.  The  momentum  of  the  powerful 
beast  threw  the  lighter  opposing  horse  prone  on 
the  earth,  and  the  rider  was  thrown  off,  though 


A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO  79 

free  from  the  prostrate  horse.  In  the  fall  his  re 
volver  had  been  hurled  from  his  hand  and  before 
he  could  regain  it,  or  draw  the  other  from  his  belt, 
Leon  was  upon  him.  Both  were  strong  men ;  and 
the  soldier  had  the  advantage  that  he  strove  to 
kill  his  antagonist,  whereas  Leon  strove  only  to 
defend  himself,  and  disarm  his  enemy.  Fiercely 
they  struggled  and  rolled  upon  the  earth.  Blood 
stained  and  panting  they  struggled,  exerting  all 
their  strength,  aiming  their  attack  at  the  most  vul 
nerable  points. 

As  they  fought  Black  Bess,  having  driven  away 
the  soldier's  horse  in  ignominious  flight,  came 
prancing  up  to  where  the  two  men  writhed  and 
not  being  able  to  help  her  master,  she  circled 
round  and  round  the  mass  of  contorted  human 
members  in  great  agitation. 

During  the  struggle  the  soldier  repeatedly  en 
deavored  to  draw  his  remaining  revolver  from  his 
belt,  but  Leon  with  greater  strength  drew  back  his 
hand.  Had  Leon  been  inspired  with  the  motive  to 
kill,  as  was  the  other,  the  contest  would  have  soon 
come  to  an  end.  Leon  was  the  stronger  man ;  but 
he  directed  all  his  efforts  merely  to  overpower  his 
adversary  without  unnecessary  injury. 

Suddenly  the  soldier  by  compelling  Leon  to 
shield  himself  from  the  other's  teeth,  disengaged 
his  right  hand,  and  in  an  instant  drew  his  weapon. 
Leon  abandoned  his  defense  against  the  other's 
teeth,  and  with  instant  action  seized  the  armed 


80  A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO 

hand,  and  twisted  the  arm  violently  backwards. 
There  was  a  sharp  clicking  sound;  the  revolver 
fell  from  the  limp,  lifeless  hand:  the  arm  was 
broken.  The  soldier  was  overcome:  he  cried  out 
with  pain,  mingling  oaths  with  his  cries. 

Leon  arose  and  assisted  the  wounded  man  to 
arise.  The  soldier  looked  at  him  with  an  expres 
sion  like  to  that  of  a  wounded  panther  at  bay. 
Leon  addressed  him  kindly. 

"Stranger,  against  my  will,  in  the. defense  of 
my  life,  I  have  done  you  an  injury.  Though  I  fear 
that  your  life  is  evil,  you  still  are  a  man ;  and  as  a 
man  I  appeal  to  you  to  justify  my  defense  today 
of  a  defenseless  woman.  Who  that  woman  is,  or 
what  relation  she  bears  to  you,  I  know  not;  but 
any  man  worthy  of  the  name  of  man  would  have 
taken  up  her  defense  today  as  I  did.  If  your  pur 
suit  were  in  any  way  just,  you  could  have  made 
known  the  justice  of  your  cause.  I  was  not  armed. 
I  never  sought  to  injure  you,  even  in  our  struggle. 
I  regret  the  injury  that  you  have  received,  and  I 
offer  you  the  hospitality  of  our  humble  home  and 
proper  care  and  nursing  in  your  injury. ' ' 

The  soldier  was  silent. 

Leon  took  up  the  revolvers  and,  emptying  the 
chambers,  he  placed  them  in  the  soldier's  belt. 

But  now  he  became  conscious  that  the  man  was 
growing  very  weak,  his  legs  were  tottering,  and 
Leon  was  obliged  to  support  him  in  his  arms. 

Black  Bess  was  close  at  hand,  rubbing  her  nose 


A   DAUGHTEK    OF    MEXICO  81 

against  Leon,  and  sniffing  of  his  blood-stained  gar 
ments. 

And  now  the  old  Indian  accompanied  by  his  son 
Joseph  came  up.  Together  they  lifted  the  fainting 
man  and  placed  him  on  Bess '  back. 

Leon  led  the  mare ;  the  old  Indian  supported  the 
injured  man  in  the  saddle;  and  Joseph  went  to 
bring  the  soldier 's  horse,  which  was  grazing  at  a 
little  distance. 

As  Leon  neared  his  home,  the  woman  whom  he 
had  saved  came  to  meet  him.  She  was  accom 
panied  by  Lucy  the  Indian  girl,  his  foster  sister. 

He  could  hardly  believe  the  testimony  of  his 
eyes:  the  woman  whom  he  had  just  rescued  was 
Miriam  de  M . 

A  strange  fate  was  binding  these  lives  together. 

She  came  up  to  him  with  perfect  trust  and 
grasped  his  hand. 

"My  noble  deliverer,  I  owe  you  my  life.  You 
are  wounded.  Oh,  blood  is  flowing  from  our  arm ; 
come,  I  can  dress  a  wound.  But  I  can  not  come 
near  that  dreadful  man.  Ah,  I  am  wrong;  I  am 
safe  here,  I  know  I  am  safe ;  he  can  not  dishonor 
me;  and  I  will  nurse  him  also.  You  are  all  good 
here;  I  know  it.  God  sent  me  to  you.  Oh,  what 
have  they  done  to  my  home  ?  to  my  father  ?  to  my 
sister  Inez  ? ' ' 

Great  was  the  girl's  grief.  She  feared  most  of 
all  what  might  befall  her  loving  sister.  As  the 
flood  of  painful  thoughts  surged  through  her  soul, 


82  A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO 

a  sudden  inspiration  seized  her,  and  she  cried  out : 

1 '  They  will  not  kill  my  father,  for  they  want  his 
ransom ;  and  I  know  that  Inez  will  die  for  her  faith 
and  her  honor.  She  has  the  spirit  of  St.  Cecilia, 
St.  Agnes,  St.  Agatha. 

"She  was  separated  from  me  because  she  went 
to  minister  to  a  sick  child.  0  God  of  Mercy,  I  com 
mend  her  to  thy  protection.  Thou  wilt  not  suffer 
her  to  be  dishonored.  Oh,  why  are  men  so  wicked  ? 

"My  father  is  innocent  of  all  wrong:  he  lives 
for  naught  else  but  to  do  good.  My  Inez  lives  yet 
in  the  purity  of  her  baptismal  innocence.  0,  God, 
protect  us  in  this  hour  of  trial. ' ' 

The  old  Indian  had  assisted  the  soldier  to  the 
best  couch  in  the  humble  dwelling. 

He  gently  loosened  his  garments  and  prepared 
him  for  the  reduction  of  the  fracture  of  the  arm. 

Meanwhile  Benita,  the  mother  of  the  home,  had 
removed  Leon's  blood-soaked  shirt  and  tenderly 
bathed  the  lacerated  flesh  in  preparation  for  the 
excellent  salve  which  she  had  ready.  Lucy  assisted 
her  mother  in  silence.  She  was  a  mere  child  of 
perhaps  sixteen  years  of  age. 

Joseph  had  not  yet  entered  the  home. 

On  a  sudden  Miriam  became  aware  that  she  was 
the  only  one  that  was  not  doing  some  useful  ser 
vice.  To  be  idle  in  a  time  of  need  was  contrary  to 
her  character.  She  bounded  to  the  side  of  Benita 
and  with  deft  fingers  aided  in  bandaging  the 
wound. 


A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO  83 

A  little  drop  of  Leon's  blood  dropped  upon  her 
white  hand.  Thinking  herself  unobserved,  she 
pressed  her  hand  to  her  lips  and  kissed  the  spot  of 
blood. 

Leon  saw  the  act,  and  a  wild  thrill  of  joy  surged 
through  his  being.  His  pain  now  was  nothing. 
He  could  have  wished  a  greater  physical  injury,  in 
order  to  have  Miriam  minister  to  him. 

Leon's  injury  was  soon  cared  for,  and  he  joined 
the  old  Indian  in  caring  for  the  soldier. 

The  Indian  possessed  much  knowledge  of  medi 
cine,  and  was  very  skillful  in  the  setting  of  bones. 

Assisted  by  the  others,  he  performed  a  very 
skillful  operation  on  the  soldier's  arm,  and  soon 
the  injured  man  was  quietly  resting,  much  at  home 
in  his  new  surroundings. 

We  must  now  go  back  to  the  earlier  events  of 
the  day.  The  Carranzistas  had  come  to  the  estate 

of  Senor  Estaban  de  M ,  and  had  arrested  him 

in  a  brutal  manner.  They  had  plundered  the 
estate,  had  killed  some  of  the  servants,  and  the 
wounded  soldier  had  attempted  to  seize  Miriam. 
By  the  help  of  a  faithful  servant,  Miriam  had 
escaped  on  her  favorite  mount,  but  her  flight  was 
discovered,  and  the  pursuit  which  we  have  de 
scribed  ensued. 

Inez,  the  only  other  member  of  Senor  de 

M 's  family,  returning  from  her  errand  of 

mercy,  when  within  sight  of  her  home,  paused  in 
terror.  She  was  a  daughter  of  the  soil,  and  knew 


84  A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO 

at  once  the  meaning  of  the  sounds  and  sights 
which  she  perceived. 

Anxiety  for  her  father  and  sister  impelled  her 
to  come  nearer ;  not  openly  however,  but  screening 
herself  from  view  in  the  paths  which  she  knew  so 
well.  She  had  reached  a  point  whence  she  could 
see  quite  clearly  what  was  being  done,  when  the 
soldiers  dragged  her  father  forth  from  the  house. 
The  sight  caused  her  to  cry  out,  and  forgetting 
personal  danger,  she  dashed  forward  and  threw 
herself  upon  the  soldiers  who  held  her  father 
captive. 

"0,  Father, "  she  cried,  "why  are  they  taking 
you  away?  What  have  we  done!  O,  gentlemen, 
don't  take  my  father  away.  No  man  in  Mexico 
loves  his  country  better  than  he.  He  has  worked 
for  peace;  he  has  fed  the  poor;  he  has  given  a 
hospital  for  the  sick  and  wounded.  You  cannot 
arrest  my  father.  No  man  in  all  the  world  can 
charge  him  with  any  crime.  Take  all  we  have,  but 
let  my  father  come  with  me. 

"Father,  let  them  have  the  house,  the  herds. 
You  and  Miriam  and  I  will  be  happy  together. ' ' 

The  only  effect  of  this  appeal  was  to  excite  the 
brutal  lust  of  the  soldiery.  A  rough-visaged 
Mestizo  caught  Inez  in  his  arms,  but  the  presence 
of  the  beautiful  girl  had  in  some  measure  drawn 
the  attention  of  the  soldiers  away  from  her  father. 

As  with  a  fiendish  leer  the  brutal  soldier  forced 
Inez  into  his  embrace,  Senor  de  M drew  a  dag- 


A   DAUGHTEB   OF    MEXICO  85 

ger  from  his  belt  and  plunged  it  up  to  the  hilt  in 
the  heart  of  his  child's  aggressor.  With  a  guttural 
groan  the  soldier  threw  up  his  hands  and  sank 
dead  upon  the  ground. 

" Flee, Inez,  leave  me,"  shouted  Senor  de  M , 

"flee  to  the  mountains:  you  know  secret  ways — " 

Senor  de  M did  not  finish  the  sentence.  The 

defense  of  his  daughter's  honor  was  his  last  act. 
The  soldiers  fell  upon  him  and  cut  him  in  pieces. 

That  which  might  have  caused  a  weaker  soul  to 
collapse  brought  peace  to  Inez. 

The  processes  of  thought  are  very  swift.  She 
realized  that  nothing  in  this  world  could  now  hurt 
her  father :  he  had  passed  out  of  the  world  of  sin 
and  suffering.  She  knew  intimately  his  life:  he 
was  a  saint.  His  last  act  was  a  noble  and  fearless 
defense  of  his  daughter's  honor.  His  act  had 
freed  her.  No  hand  was  now  upon  her.  She 
judged  that  Miriam  had  fled ;  and  her  own  inspira 
tion  to  flee  was  strengthened  by  the  wish  to  give 
effect  to  her  father's  last  heroic  act.  She  felt  that 
she  must  be  brave  to  be  worthy  of  such  a  father, 
and  with  a  swift  worshipful  look  at  the  noble  form, 
she  breathed  a  fervent  prayer  for  his  soul,  and 
then  praying  without  ceasing  for  him  and  for  her 
self,  she  darted  away  through  a  hidden  path 
towards  the  mountains. 

She  ran  while  her  strength  endured,  and  then 
halting  a  moment  to  listen,  and  being  reassured 
that  no  one  was  following  her,  she  sat  down  in  a 


86  A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO 

hidden  nook,  and  then  for  the  first  time  the  full 
terror  of  her  state  was  realized.  What  a  day  it 
had  been !  They  had  lived  for  some  time  in  fear 
of  the  Carranzistas.  Her  father  had  always  been 
a  pacificist,  and  had  always  counseled  that  the 
chiefs  come  together  and  adopt  a  modus  Vivendi. 
He  had  helped  all  in  distress,  irrespective  of  their 
factions,  and  the  only  thing  which  could  make  him 
a  persona  non  grata  to  the  Revolutionists  was  that 
he  had  stood  for  justice  for  the  Catholic  Church 
in  Mexico.  Though  he  had  inherited  great  wealth, 
he  had  greatly  lessened  his  estate  by  his  charity 
to  the  poor.  He  had  considered  himself  merely 
God's  steward  to  use  his  goods  to  do  the  greatest 
good.  | ' 

Even  in  the  worst  stage  of  the  French  Revolu 
tion,  the  eminent  virtue  of  Estaban  de  M 

would  have  saved  him  from  the  fury  of  the  Com 
mune.  The  Revolutionists  of  Mexico  have  de 
scended  below  anything  recorded  in  civilized  his 
tory.  They  have  mingled  the  cruelty  of  the  savage 
with  the  fierce  anticlerical  hatred  of  Europe. 

Inez  now  felt  the  full  force  of  her  loss.  The 
night  coming  on  increased  her  loneliness.  But  the 
very  horror  of  her  situation  drove  her  to  more  im 
plicit  reliance  on  the  protection  of  Heaven. 

She  knelt  and  prayed  for  help  to  the  God  who 
has  declared  himself  to  be  the  Father  of  the 
orphan.  She  was  an  orphan  and  alone.  The 
memory  of  her  noble  father,  of  all  his  goodness,  of 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  87 

his  love  of  her,  surged  back  upon  her  soul,  and 
she  fell  prostrate,  even  as  the  Man  of  sorrows 
fell  prostrate  in  the  garden  under  the  weight  of 
the  world's  sin. 

It  was  her  faith  alone  that  preserved  her  from 
madness.  As  the  angel  appeared  in  the  agony  in 
Gethsemane,  so  faith  brought  help  to  that  stricken 
soul. 

Through  the  gloom  of  sorrow  the  thought  of 
Heaven  thrust  itself  in.  The  Spirit  of  God  whis 
pered  to  her  spirit  that  her  noble  father  was  safe 
in  the  keeping  of  God.  Sweetly,  as  though  whis 
pered  by  an  angel,  the  words  came  to  her :  "I  am 
the  resurrection  and  the  life :  he  that  believeth  in 
me,  although  he  be  dead,  shall  live :  and  every  one 
that  liveth  and  believeth  in  me  shall  not  die  for 
ever.  "— John  XI.  25-26. 

Peace  entered  her  soul.  She  no  longer  thought 
of  her  father  as  dead,  but  as  raised  to  a  better 
state  of  life,  in  which  he  should  be  her  inspiration 
and  her  hope. 

But  now  another  more  disturbing  thought  en 
tered  her  mind.  Where  was  Miriam? 

Were  Miriam  dead,  Inez  could  associate  her  with 
her  father,  for  Miriam's  life  had  been  like  his. 
Both  girls  had  been  closely  associated  with  the 
father  in  his  good  deeds.  Their  lives  greatly  re 
sembled  the  lives  of  the  early  Christians  in  that 
golden  age  of  the  Church,  before  the  world  in 
vaded  the  patrimony  of  Christ  and  brought  into 


88  A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO 

existence  that  contradiction  in  terms,  the  worldly 
Christian. 

But  even  here  Heaven  consoled  the  desolate 
child.  She  knew  not  whence  it  came,  but  a  certain 
definite  persuasion  filled  her  that  Miriam  was  safe. 

She  had  gone  a  considerable  distance  into  a 
wooded,  uninhabited  tract.  In  an  ordinary  mood 
she  would  have  been  greatly  afraid  to  be  alone  in 
the  darkness  in  the  uninhabited  place.  But  now 
she  seemed  so  near  to  God  that  as  the  great  silence 
of  the  night  enveloped  her  she  looked  up  to  Heaven, 
as  though  she  could  put  forth  her  hand  and  touch 
its  invisible  entities. 

She  had  begun  to  collect  her  thoughts,  and  to 
form  a  plan  of  action,  when  a  noise  startled  her. 
She  looked  in  the  direction  of  the  sound,  and  her 
heart  stood  still  with  terror.  The  quivering  of  the 
bushes  gave  evidence  that  some  living  being  was 
pushing  its  way  in  her  direction. 

The  sudden  terror  took  from  her  the  power  of 
thought  and  action:  she  sat  and  looked  in  dumb 
fear.  Through  the  rustling,  swaying  bushes  the 
object  came  nearer,  stopped  for  a  moment,  and 
then  with  a  bound  was  upon  her;  it  was  her  pet 
dog.  He  licked  her  hands  and  her  face,  gamboled 
about  her,  and  whined  piteously. 

It  required  some  moments  for  Inez  to  recover 
from  the  shock.  She  threw  her  hands  about  the 
faithful  animal's  neck  and  pressed  her  cheek 
against  his  glossy  neck. 


A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  89 

The  presence  of  the  dog  brought  back  tender 
memories  of  her  home.  How  often  had  she  and 
Miriam  walked  out  through  the  peaceful  fields, 
while  Brave,  the  dog,  frisked  and  gamboled  about 
them  in  the  wild  exuberance  of  healthy  nature! 
And  now  all  had  passed ;  the  fearful  tide  of  sorrow 
was  setting  in  again,  but  again  faith  came  to  the 
rescue. 

"O  God,  mighty,  living  God,  in  Thee  I  hope: 
Thou  wilt  not  fail  me. ' ' 

A  desire  now  moved  Inez  to  revisit  her  home. 
She  could  not  turn  away  with  the  thought  in  her 
mind  that  perhaps  her  father's  body  might  be 
lying  uncared  for  where  he  fell. 

She  realized  that  the  undertaking  was  most 
dangerous;  but  she  was  becoming  accustomed  to 
danger.  The  darkness  would  be  her  shield.  She 
patted  Brave  lovingly  on  the  head;  impressed  on 
him  that  he  was  to  go  cautiously  with  her ;  and  set 
out  in  the  direction  of  her  home. 

It  was  close  to  midnight  when  she  reached  the 
house.  All  was  silent.  She  waited  some  time  and 
listened ;  there  was  no  sound.  By  the  pale  ghastly 
light  of  the  moon  she  located  the  spot  \vhere  her 
father  fell.  The  ground  was  soaked  with  human 
blood,  but  the  body  had  been  removed.  She 
realized  the  futility  of  trying  to  find  where  they 
had  buried  the  body. 

With  greater  caution  she  entered  the  house.  All 
was  in  confusion.  Everything  of  value  had  been 


90  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

taken.  A  systematic,  thorough  looting  of  thp 
house  had  been  wrought  by  the  soldiers. 

Out  of  the  confusion  she  gathered  some  of 
Miriam's  and  some  of  her  own  apparel,  and  made 
a  bundle  of  it. 

The  soldiers  had  feasted  in  the  house,  and  out  of 
the  broken  pieces  of  food  she  gathered  some 
fragments  into  another  little  parcel,  and  then 
crept  out  of  the  desolate  house.  As  she 
passed  the  blood-stained  earth  where  her 
father  had  fallen,  she  knelt  and  pressed  her 
handkerchief  in  the  blood.  She  folded  it  up  and 
reverently  placed  it  in  her  bosom. 

She  went  forth  at  dead  midnight  into  the  vast 
silence ;  faith  had  made  her  superhuman. 

She  had  not  gone  far  before  she  became  aware 
that  several  persons  were  approaching.  By  the 
pale  light  of  the  moon  she  could  discern  dim 
shadowy  forms,  who  were  evidently  endeavoring 
to  approach  without  being  observed. 

Brave  uttered  a  low  growl,  and  stalked  boldly 
in  front  of  her  to  defend  her  as  he  might. 

The  remembrance  of  the  danger  from  which  her 
father  had  saved  her  made  her  shudder.  Her 
blood  seemed  to  be  congealed  in  its  course.  She 
faltered  backwards,  but  her  physical  strength  had 
been  strained  beyond  its  capacity.  She  reeled  and 
sank  to  the  ground,  and  lost  consciousness. 

In  the  brief  interval  that  ensued  she  seemed  to 
hear  far  off  voices ;  she  seemed  to  struggle  to  go 


A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO  91 

to  the  voices,  but  to  be  held  as  in  a  nightmare. 
Then  she  opened  her  eyes  and  stared  into  a  human 
face.  And  now  with  a  suppressed  cry,  she  clasped 
in  her  arms  Miriam,  her  sister.  With  Miriam 
were  Leon,  his  foster  father  and  Joseph. 

They  knew  all.  As  soon  as  they  had  dressed  the 
soldier's  injury  they  had  come  out  to  Miriam's 
home.  They  found  the  scene  of  desolation  which 

we  have  described.  The  body  of  Sefior  de  M 

lay  where  he  had  fallen.  They  had  taken  the  body 
and  had  given  it  immediate  burial,  as  they  feared 
that  the  Carranzistas  might  trace  the  body,  and 
thus  endanger  Miriam. 

The  body  was  horribly  mutilated,  and  immediate 
burial  was  imperative. 

They  had  now  returned  to  recover  whatever 
might  have  escaped  the  marauding  soldiery. 

Words  cannot  describe  the  happiness  of  the  sis 
ters  in  their  meeting.  Their  words  were  few; 
they  held  each  other  in  a  close  embrace  with  their 
cheeks  pressed  together  so  that  their  tears  were 
mingled  as  they  flowed  from  their  common  grief. 

"Our  father  is  in  Heaven,"  whispered  Miriam. 

"0,  Miriam, "  Inez  replied,  "out  in  the  lonely 
wood  tonight  an  angel  told  me  what  you  now  say. 
You  and  I  shall  now  live  only  for  Heaven,  and  our 
father 's  memory  shall  be  our  inspiration. ' ' 

They  now  again  entered  the  wrecked  dwelling, 
and  Miriam  went  to  a  secret  hiding  place  and  took 
from  it  a  bag  of  gold,  which  had  escaped  the  rob- 


92  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

bers.     She  took  a  few  other  articles,  and  then  all 
went  back  to  the  Indian 's  home. 

A  room  was  given  to  the  two  sisters,  and  against 
their  protests  they  were  gently  constrained  to  ac 
cept  the  best  room  in  the  house.  Clasped  in  each 
other 's  arms  they  slept  a  sleep  that  was  more  the 
sheer  exhaustion  of  nature  than  the  healthful 
slumber  that  comes  to  happy  mortals. 

And  while  they  slept,  in  silence  Leon  and  his 
foster  father  kept  vigilant  watch,  ready  to  give 
their  lives  for  the  defenseless  ones  within  their 
home. 

Before  the  break  of  day  a  dreadful  storm  broke 
upon  the  scene.  The  lurid  lightning  and  dreadful 
thunder  seemed  to  bespeak  God's  anger  against 
the  deeds  of  wicked  men. 

The  watchers  welcomed  the  storm:  no  one 
would  go  abroad  in  such  weather,  and  it  would 
give  them  more  time  to  devise  a  plan  of  safety. 

The  sullen,  ungrateful  behavior  of  the  wounded 
soldier  dispelled  all  hope  that  he  would  be  friendly 
to  them  after  leaving  them.  It  was  inevitable 
therefore  that,  as  soon  as  his  convalescence  should 
enable  him  to  depart,  they  must  flee. 

At  this  juncture  there  came  to  their  habitation 
a  refugee  priest  from  Galeana.  He  was  fleeing  to 
the  mountains.  The  Garranzistas  had  robbed  him 
of  all  his  possessions.  The  priest  was  a  man  of 
deep  faith  and  fervent  piety,  and  withal  a  true 
lover  of  Mexico.  He  reported  fearful  things  which 


A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  93 

had  been  done  wherever  the  Constitutionalists  had 
taken  cities  and  towns.  At  Monterey  they  had 
locked  the  churches,  imposed  a  fine  of  $500,000  on 
the  priests,  and  as  this  could  not  be  paid  they  cast 
the  priests  into  prison.  Their  respective  consuls 
freed  the  foreign  priests,  but  they  must  leave  the 
country.  The  native  priests  were  kept  in  prison 
until  as  much  money  as  could  be  collected  was 
given  for  their  ransom. 

The  Archbishop's  palace  was  confiscated,  his 
fine  library  destroyed,  the  confessionals  of  the 
churches  were  burned,  the  statues  of  the  saints 
were  thrown  in  the  streets  and  shot  at. 

A  decree  was  published  which  practically  abol 
ished  religious  liberty. 

At  Tanquecillos  they  dressed  themselves  in  the 
sacred  vestments,  and  then  indulged  in  an  impure 
dance. 

At  other  towns  they  drank  their  national  drink 
mescal  from  the  ciborium.  Horrible  sacrileges 
were  perpetrated  everywhere. 

At  other  places  they  resorted  to  various  meth 
ods  of  torture,  and  of  inspiring  fear  to  extort 
money  from  the  priests.  Mock  executions  were 
carried  out;  priests  were  lined  up  to  be  shot; 
others  were  hanged  by  the  neck,  and  then  let  down 
when  semi-conscious. 

The  poor  priest  was  given  hospitality;  Miriam 
drew  some  of  the  gold  from  the  bag,  which  she  had 
recovered  from  her  ruined  home,  and  gave  to 


94  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

him.  He  blessed  them  in  God's  name,  and  went  on 
to  the  mountains. 

Miriam  and  Inez  now  proposed  that  they  should 

go  secretly  and  seek  shelter  at  Z .  They  knew 

the  Theresian  Sisters  there  and  their  worthy 
chaplain,  who  had  been  for  years  their  father's 
close  friend.  They  should  go  disguised  as  Indian 
peasant  women,  and  Leon  and  Joseph  should  ac 
company  them.  The  old  Indian,  Benita,  and  Lucy 
should  remain  to  nurse  the  wounded  soldier;  and 
when  he  was  able  to  be  discharged  from  their 

primitive  hospital,  they  should  follow  to  Z , 

and  all  should  begin  life  anew,  thus  removed  from 
the  scene  of  the  tragic  events. 

The  plan  was  at  once  put  into  execution,  and  the 
journey  was  made  without  incident. 

Inez  regretted  much  that  she  could  not  take  the 
dog  Brave  with  her.  She  gave  him  into  the 
custody  of  Leon's  foster  father,  begging  him  to 
make  a  gift  of  him  to  some  one  who  would  use  him 
well. 

Miriam  mounted  her  own  horse,  and  Inez  was 
placed  on  Black  Bess.  Leon  and  Joseph  travelled 
on  foot. 

The  less  frequented  ways  were  chosen,  and  all 
caution  was  used  to  avoid  observation. 

All  were  received  with  sincere  welcome  at  Z . 

The  good  nuns  had  received  many  benefits  from 

Senor  de  M .  His  tragic  death  was  a  great 

shock  to  them.  His  funeral  Mass  was  at  once 


A   DAUGHTEB    OF    MEXICO  95 

celebrated  in  the  chapel.  The  scene  at  that  Mass 
much  resembled  many  scenes  in  the  Catacombs  of 
old. 

It  was  a  great  happiness  to  the  chaplain,  Father 

V ,  and  all  the  nuns  to  be  able  thus  to  honor 

the  memory  of  the  good  man,  and  to  offer  welcome 
hospitality  to  his  daughters. 

The  two  girls  were  given  a  plain  but  decent 
room,  and  Leon  and  Joseph  were  lodged  in  the 
chaplain's  house. 

There  ensued  a  few  days  of  much  needed  rest; 
and  during  that  time  the  chaplain  and  Leon 
studied  the  Mexican  question,  with  a  view  to  find 
some  way  of  relief. 

Miriam  and  Inez  were  not  idle. 

In  happier  days  they  had  made  the  acquaintance 
of  a  young  man  of  good  family,  an  American,  who 
for  business  interests  had  for  some  years  resided 
in  Mexico.  He  was  a  non-Catholic,  and  perhaps 
that  fact  had  prevented  any  closer  relation  than 
mere  friendship.  He  had  manifested  a  marked 
admiration  for  Inez,  but  the  difference  in  religious 
belief  always  formed  an  impassible  barrier;  and 
for  some  time  all  communication  between  them 
had  ceased.  Inez  knew  that  her  American  ac 
quaintance  had  influence  with  the  leader,  Villa; 
and  in  her  distress  she  determined  to  appeal  to 
him  for  help.  She  confided  her  plan  to  Miriam, 
and  both  judged  that  it  would  be  just  and  hon 
orable  to  make  such  appeal. 


96  A    DAUGHTEK    OF    MEXICO 

As  the  mails  were  in  great  disorder,  they  called 
Leon  into  consultation,  and  after  mature  delibera 
tion,  determined  to  send  Joseph  to  bear  the  mes 
sage  to  Harold  Wilding,  the  aforesaid  young 
American. 

The  Indian  youth  was  greatly  pleased  to  be  en 
trusted  with  such  an  important  mission. 

He  was  furnished  by  Miriam  with  some  money 
for  the  journey,  and  departed  in  fine  spirits. 

Advices  now  began  to  come  in  that  the  Consti 
tutionalists  under  Villa  were  marching  upon 

Z ,  and  that  the  city  must  fall  into  their  hands. 

The  fear  of  the  impending  evil  invaded  everyone. 

Carranza  was  the  "smiling  damned  villain "; 
Villa  was  the  brute.  They  were  then  working  in 
harmony. 

One  morning  the  superior  of  the  convent  ad 
vised  the  chaplain  that  Miriam  and  Inez  wished 
his  advice.  After  Mass  he  received  them  by  their 
request  in  the  community  room  of  the  convent.  It 
was  a  time  for  the  most  serious  thought :  the  Con 
stitutionalists  had  begun  to  attack  the  city. 
" Father, "  began  Miriam,  "we  wish  your  counsel 
touching  a  question  of  great  moment.  Is  it  allowed 
a  woman  to  destroy  her  life  to  save  herself  from 
dishonor ?"  A  moment  of  silence  ensued.  The 
priest  rose  and  took  from  a  bookcase  a  Bible. 
Opening  it  he  presented  it  to  Miriam,  saying 
"Bead."  And  Miriam  read  from  II.  Maccab. 
XIV.  37-46 : 


A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO  97 

"Now  information  was  given  to  Nicanor  against 
one  Razis,  an  elder  of  Jerusalem,  as  being  a  lover 
of  his  countrymen  and  a  man  of  very  good  report, 
and  one  called  Father  of  the  Jews  for  his  good 
will  toward  them.  For  in  the  former  times  when 
there  was  no  mingling  with  the  Gentiles  he  had 
been  accused  of  cleaving  to  the  Jews '  religion,  and 
had  jeoparded  body  and  life  with  all  earnestness 
for  the  religion  of  the  Jews.  And  Nicanor,  wish 
ing  to  make  evident  the  ill  will  that  he 
bare  unto  the  Jews,  sent  above  five  hundred 
soldiers  to  take  him,  for  he  thought  by  taking 
him  to  inflict  a  calamity  upon  them.  But  when 
the  troops  were  on  the  point  of  taking  the  tower, 
and  were  forcing  the  door  of  the  court,  and  bade 
bring  fire  and  burn  the  doors,  he  being  surrounded 
on  every  side  fell  upon  his  sword,  choosing  rather 
to  die  nobly  than  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the 
wicked  wretches,  and  suffer  outrage  unworthy  of 
his  own  nobleness :  but  since  he  missed  his  stroke 
through  the  excitement  of  the  struggle,  and  the 
crowds  were  now  rushing  within  the  door,  he  ran 
bravely  up  to  the  wall  and  cast  himself  down  man 
fully  among  the  crowds.  But  as  they  quickly  gave 
back,  a  space  was  made,  and  he  fell  on  the  middle 
of  his  side.  And  having  yet  breath  within  him, 
and  being  inflamed  with  passion,  he  rose  up,  and 
though  his  blood  gushed  out  in  streams  and  his 
wounds  were  grievous,  he  ran  through  the  crowds, 
and  standing  upon  a  steep  rock,  when  as  his  blood 


98  A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO 

was  now  well  nigh  spent,  he  drew  forth  his  bowels 
through  the  wound,  and  taking  them  in  both  his 
hands  he  shook  them  at  the  crowds;  and  calling 
upon  him  who  is  Lord  of  the  life  and  the  spirit  to 
restore  him  these  again,  he  thus  died." 

Miriam  shuddered  at  the  fearful  history. 

"You  observe,  Senorita,"  said  the  priest,  "that 
the  Sacred  Scripture  holds  this  man  up  as  an  ex 
ample  of  faith  and  holiness  of  life.  There  is  no 
hint  of  condemnation  of  the  deed.  The  inspired 
writer  declares  that  he  chose  to  die  *  nobly/  and 
that  he  'manfully'  threw  himself  down.  There 
fore  it  seems  fully  proven  that  the  act  of  Razis 
was  fully  justified,  and  was  a  heroic  act. 

"You  have  heard  of  St.  Apollonia,  the  virgin 
and  martyr.  The  executioners  had  prepared  and 
lighted  the  fire  to  burn  her.  The  saint,  fearing 
that  before  her  execution  she  might  be  subjected 
to  something  contrary  to  Christian  modesty,  vol 
untarily  leaped  into  the  fire,  and  was  consumed. 
The  Acts  of  her  martyrdom  approve  the  deed,  de 
claring  that  she  acted  through  a  greater  impulse 
of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

"In  this  matter  the  poise  of  truth  is  very  deli 
cate,  and  great  care  is  necessary  to  hold  the  true 
course.  The  eternal  principle  must  always  re 
main  that  self-slaughter  is  forbidden  by  God. 
The  reason  of  God's  everlasting  decree  is  that  God 
is  the  sole  Lord  of  life,  and  the  suicide  invades 


A   DAUGHTEB   OF    MEXICO  99 

God's  exclusive  right.  No  man  lias  a  dominion 
over  his  life,  or  over  any  human  life. 

"The  reason  that  it  is  lawful  for  the  executive 
officer  of  society  to  take  the  life  of  a  condemned 
man  is  that  God  through  society  delegates  his 
power  to  the  executioner  for  the  preservation  of 
society.  Hence  in  the  present  tendency  to  abolish 
capital  punishment,  many  false  opinions  are  ut 
tered.  I  also  hope  that  all  governments  may 
abolish  the  death  penalty ;  but,  while  desiring  this 
change  in  the  criminal  code,  I  concede  to  society 
the  right  to  take  the  life  of  a  criminal,  if  society 
needs  that  procedure  for  its  preservation.  The 
abolition  of  the  death  penalty  must  be  considered 
as  society's  free  act,  by  which  it  substitutes  one 
form  of  punishment  for  another  for  society's 
greater  good. 

' '  But  I  return  to  the  weighty  question  you  ask : 
it  is  never  allowed  directly  to  take  one 's  life. 

"You  will  answer  that  Eazis  and  Apollonia 
directly  took  their  lives,  for  both  did  an  act  that 
was  incompatible  with  the  endurance  of  their  life. 
Since  the  formal  factor  that  constitutes  a  human 
act  is  the  intention  or  motive  as  apprehended  and 
willed  by  the  mind,  let  us  turn  our  attention  to 
Razis '  mental  state. 

"There  was  no  rebellion  in  his  mind  against 
God ;  no  despair  at  his  sufferings.  He  was  marked 
for  death  because  he  believed  in  the  sole  true  God. 
He  was  ready  to  die  for  his  faith,  and  feared  no 


LOO  A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

sufferings,  which  his  unjust  executioners  might 
inflict. 

' '  But  he  feared  the  effect  which  the  fiendish  men 
contemplated  by  abusing  him  in  the  sight  of  the 
people.  He  feared  that  some  of  his  co-religionists 
might  waver  and  fail  in  their  faith  at  the  sight  of 
the  shameful  usage  which  he  should  receive;  and 
therefore  in  a  very  extraordinary  state  of  things, 
he  elected  to  show  his  people  a  noble  contempt  of 
death,  based  upon  his  firm  belief  in  the  resurrec 
tion  of  the  body.  And  therefore  his  death  by  his 
own  hand  was  not  directly  willed;  neither  was  it 
wrought  to  obtain  for  him  any  private  advantage. 

"Inasmuch  as  the  fiends  had  begun  to  batter 
down  the  door  of  his  dwelling,  his  execution  could 
be  considered  as  morally  begun,  and  the  man's 
noble  contempt  of  death,  being  shown  for  the 
noblest  motive  for  which  a  man  can  work,  made 
his  extraordinary  act  justifiable. 

"The  act  of  Apollonia  is  easier  to  explain,  for 
all  moralists  agree  that  a  woman  in  order  to  pro 
tect  her  honor  may  place  herself  in  a  state  of  being 
in  which  death  must  naturally  ensue.  Thus  a 
woman  may  hurl  herself  down  a  precipice,  or  into 
the  sea,  or  into  fire,  etc. ' ' 

Miriam  sat  with  clasped  hands  during  the  good 
chaplain's  discourse.  It  was  evident  that  in  the 
distracted  land  of  Mexico  there  were  to  be  found 
Roman  martyrs. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

The  wounded  soldier  rapidly  recovered  his 
strength,  and  being  impatient  to  go  back  to  his 
accustomed  way  of  life,  he  asked  to  be  given  his 
horse,  while  his  arm  was  yet  carried  in  a  sling. 

The  old  Indian  silently  prepared  his  horse, 
assisted  him  to  mount,  and  gave  him  bread  and 
dried  meat  for  the  journey. 

Without  a  word  of  thanks  or  greeting,  the 
soldier  rode  swiftly  away. 

A  moment  after,  Lucy  and  her  father  and 
mother  hurriedly  collected  the  few  things  that  they 
could  bear  with  them,  and  quietly  crept  away 
towards  the  mountains. 

They  were  all  used  to  hardship,  and  traveled 
far  into  the  night  before  they  halted  for  a  few 
hours '  rest. 

Before  dawn  they  set  out  again,  eating  their 
bread  as  they  walked  on,  and  drinking  from  the 
streams  in  the  way. 

The  quiet  that  everywhere  reigned  encouraged 
them,  and  as  their  journey  brought  them  to  a 
small  railroad  station,  they  determined  to  finish 

the  journey  to  Z by  rail.  They  boarded  the 

train,  and  found  but  few  passengers  therein.  In 


102  A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO 

the  rear  of  the  train  were  several  coaches  occupied 
by  Constitutionalist  officers. 

This  fact  caused  them  some  anxiety,  but  their 
station  in  life  had  nothing  in  it  to  move  the  avarice 
or  enmity  of  the  aforesaid  officers.  A  mere  In 
dian  peasant  might  be  passed  by  without  a 
thought. 

Benita  and  Lucy  sat  together,  the  girl  holding 
tightly  to  her  mother's  arm,  and  trembling  and 
tightening  her  grasp  at  every  strange  sound  or 
sight. 

They  journeyed  thus  for  several  miles,  and  with 
the  fortunate  progress  of  their  journey  their  sense 
of  security  increased. 

Lucy  even  ventured  to  look  about  her.  It  was 
the  first  time  she  had  ever  ridden  in  a  railroad 
train.  She  was  not  ignorant.  Her  father  had 
sent  her  to  the  private  school  of  tho  Nuns  of  the 
Sacred  Heart.  She  was  well  endowed  by  nature, 
and  had  developed  the  sweetest  charms  of  pure 
womanhood. 

She  wore  but  few  ornaments:  her  beauty  was 
nature's  gift,  and  needed  no  art.  The  beauty  of 
the  virgin  forest,  of  the  wild  rose,  of  the  sea  and 
the  sky  was  hers.  And  withal  she  was  but  a  child, 
just  past  the  bound  where  childhood  merges  itself 
into  womanhood,  in  that  age  when  woman  reaches 
the  zenith  of  her  magnetic  power. 

On  a  sudden  Lucy  in  alarm  drew  herself  closer 
to  her  mother.  Some  officers  had  come  into  the 


A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO  103 

car,  and  were  walking  down  the  aisle  towards 
Lucy  and  her  mother. 

One  of  them  had  observed  Lucy,  and  was  ad 
vancing  with  the  evident  intention  of  accosting 
her. 

As  he  approached,  the  girl's  terror  became 
painful :  she  clutched  her  mother  convulsively,  and 
hid  her  face  in  her  mother's  shawl. 

The  officer  advanced  and  threw  his  arm  around 
the  shrinking  trembling  form  of  the  girl,  at  the 
same  time  addressing  to  her  endearing  epithets. 

Instantly  he  was  hurled  back  by  the  powerful 
arm  of  the  girl 's  father. 

He  reeled  helplessly  and  fell  into  one  of  the 
empty  seats. 

The  few  women  and  children  retreated  into  the 
extreme  end  of  the  car,  and  were  huddled  together 
there  like  so  many  sheep  in  danger. 

The  old  Indian  faced  the  astonished  officers  and 
said: 

"Gentlemen,  I  am  a  poor  man  and  alone;  that 
child  is  dearer  to  me  than  my  own  life.  No  man 
can  injure  her  while  I  have  power  to  defend  her. 
She  is  but  a  child,  innocent  of  all  wrong.  In  the 
name  of  Christ  and  His  Virgin  Mother  spare  that 
child. " 

The  officer  had  arisen  and  had  drawn  his  sword. 
The  old  Indian  was  unarmed.  He  had  always  led 
a  peaceful  life,  and  in  his  whole  life  had  never 
committed  an  act  of  violence. 


104  A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

Lucy  and  her  mother  had  taken  advantage  of 
the  father's  intervention,  to  rush  out  of  their  seat, 
and  to  retreat  to  the  end  of  the  coach,  where  were 
huddled  the  frightened  group  of  peasant  women 
and  children. 

Benita  also  drew  forth  from  one  of  the  bundles 
a  short  heavy  knife,  and  concealed  it  in  the  folds 
of  her  shawl. 

The  officer  with  drawn  sword  rushed  upon  the 
defenseless  Indian,  but  the  latter,  now  aroused  by 
noble  indignation,  sprang  like  a  cat  upon  the  up 
raised  arm  and  snatched  away  the  sword.  But  the 
brave  deed  was  unavailing:  one  of  the  officer's 
companions  drew  his  sword  and  stabbed  the  In 
dian  in  the  back.  The  thrust  was  powerful;  the 
Indian  uttered  no  cry,  but  stoically,  majestically, 
like  a  mighty  forest  pine,  fell  dead  at  the  coward 's 
feet. 

Lucy  saw  her  father  fall,  and  forgetful  of  her 
danger  would  have  rushed  forward,  but  Benita  re 
strained  her. 

Two  of  the  officers  with  brutal  indifference 
raised  the  body  of  the  murdered  Indian  and  threw 
it  out  of  the  window  of  the  moving  train. 

The  brutal  act  suggested  an  idea  to  Benita. 
The  old  mother  seemed  at  once  to  have  risen  above 
all  personal  fear :  she  feared  only  what  might  be 
fall  her  daughter.  She  drew  Lucy  to  her  and 
whispered  something  in  her  ear.  The  girl  drew 
herself  up  close  to  the  window,  and  halted  a  mo- 


A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO  105 

ment.  The  officer  came  fiercely  towards  her,  and 
leaning  over  Benita  he  seized  Lucy  around  the 
waist.  But  he  immediately  relaxed  his  hold,  and 
sank  down  with  a  groan  upon  the  floor;  the  old 
mother  had  plunged  the  entire  length  of  the  knife- 
blade  into  his  abdomen.  His  companions  now 
rushed  together  to  where  the  man  lay  groaning  in 
dying  agony.  At  their  approach  Lucy  clambered 
swiftly  up  and  threw  herself  headlong  from  the 
window  of  the  train. 

The  officers  raised  the  bleeding  body  of  their 
companion  and  bore  him  towards  their  special 
coach :  he  died  in  their  arms. 

The  old  mother  became  as  one  bereft  of  sense 
and  motion.  No  one  gave  her  any  more  thought. 

The  train  soon  halted,  and  great  commotion  was 
caused  by  the  removal  of  the  officer's  dead  body. 

The  old  woman  slowly  arose  and  alighted  from 
the  opposite  side  of  the  train.  Her  life  had  been 
spared,  because  no  one  had  seen  her  strike  the 
officer:  they  believed  that  the  young  girl  had 
struck  him  before  her  plunge  from  the  train. 

Slowly,  weighed  down  by  a  sorrow  that  kills, 
she  went  back  with  eyes  riveted  upon  that  side  of 
the  track  whither  her  child  had  hurled  herself. 
She  walked  on  thus  for  more  than  two  miles. 
Evening  was  approaching;  she  was  in  a  desolate 
tract  of  land;  nowhere  was  there  sign  of  human 
habitation. 

Suddenly  she  stopped  and  looked  into  the  gath- 


106  A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO 

ering  gloom.  Lucy  lay  there  lifeless,  a  crumpled 
mass  on  the  earth. 

A  deep  contusion  appeared  on  her  right  temple, 
and  her  blood  had  freely  flowed  down  through  her 
tresses  and  stained  her  white  waist. 

The  mother  fell  on  her  knees  beside  her  and 
kissed  the  cold  blood-stained  lips.  Again  and 
again  she  pressed  the  dead  girl  to  her  bosom  and 
kissed  her.  She  smoothed  out  her  hair,  and  with 
her  handkerchief  wiped  the  blood  from  the  dead 
girl 's  face.  She  arranged  the  torn  clothing  as  best 
she  could,  and  then  tenderly  took  up  the  dead  girl 
and  bore  her  away  into  the  desert  waste. 

The  burden  of  the  dead  body  caused  her  to  rest 
at  short  intervals.  Every  time  that  she  stopped 
to  rest,  she  looked  wistfully  back  toward  that  point 
where  her  husband  lay  murdered  because  he  dared 
to  defend  his  child 's  innocence. 

0,  just  God,  when  thou  comest  to  judge  the  liv 
ing  and  the  dead,  how  shall  they  escape  thy  sen 
tence  of  condemnation,  who  aided  and  abetted 
these  crimes?  How  shall  it  be  with  those  who  by 
calumny  kept  back  the  only  relief  that  could  help 
the  stricken  land  of  Mexico?  And  how  shall  the 
rulers  of  this  great  Republic  of  the  West  appear  in 
the  Great  Assize,  who,  while  by  national  policy  they 
assumed  a  protectorate  over  the  new  world,  turned 
away  from  the  cries  of  the  innocent  victims  of  the 
inhuman  ghouls  that  laid  waste  that  sister  repub 
lic?  In  that  day,  when  the  secrets  of  hearts  shall 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  107 

be  laid  bare,  how  infamous  will  appear  the  treason 
of  the  man  who  was  sent  by  the  Chief  of  this  Na 
tion  to  ascertain  the  true  state  of  things  in  Mex 
ico,  and  who  with  deliberate  malice  perverted  the 
truth,  and  delayed  that  action  of  this  Government 
which  the  accumulation  of  horrors  in  Mexico  is 
now  compelling? 

If  men  shall  ever  write  a  true  history  of  this 
epoch  of  Mexican  history,  they  must  place  that 
man's  name  in  the  category  of  Cain,  Judas 
Iscariot,  Nero,  and  Henry  VIII.  of  England. 

The  sorrow  of  Benita  had  reached  the  benumb 
ing  stage.  In  her  poor  wrinkled  face  there  was  not 
a  trace  of  color :  her  eyes  had  a  blank  stare.  Her 
strength  was  failing:  she  tried  again  to  raise  the 
body,  but  could  not.  She  fell  forward  across  the 
body.  Slowly  she  drew  herself  into  such  a  pose 
that  her  cheek  was  pressed  against  Lucy's  cold 
dead  face.  The  great  silence  of  the  night  came 
down  upon  them,  and  with  it  came  the  great  silence 
of  death. 

Benita  never  moved  again.  No  man  buried  the 
bodies.  The  wild  beasts  devoured  them  where 
they  lay,  and  sad  as  was  their  fate,  it  was  infinitely 
better  than  that  of  thousands  in  that  unhappy 
land. 

The  poor  Indian  mother  had  the  consolation  of 
knowing  that  the  dead  child  that  she  clasped  in 
her  arms  in  death  had  been  saved  from  the  lust  of 
the  impure  demons.  But  many  mothers  in  Mexico 


108  A   DAUGHTEK    OF    MEXICO 

were  deprived  of  this  consolation.  The  Catholic 
Church  Extension  Society  sent  its  able  representa 
tive,  the  Very  Eev.  F.  C.  Kelley,  D.D.,  to  Mexico  to 
ascertain  the  true  state  of  affairs  there.  He  ob 
tained  reliable  sworn  statements  which  attest  a 
condition  of  barbarity  unequalled  since  the  days 
of  Nero. 

The  publication  Extension,  in  its  editorial  of 
November,  1914,  declares: 

'  *  The  decent  Protestants  of  America,  our  fellow- 
citizens,  may  have  their  prejudices ;  but  do  preju 
dices  count  in  the  face  of  outrages  upon  innocent 
nuns,  and  which  are  too  vile  to  put  in  print? 
Protestants  are  as  responsible  as  we  Catholics, 
who,  by  silence,  have  permitted  Villa  and  Carranza 
to  believe  that  America  is  so  Protestant  that  it 
would  forget  its  sense  of  justice  when  priests  and 
nuns  of  the  Catholic  Church  are  the  only  victims. 
But  are  they  the  only  victims  ?  A  mother  with  an 
innocent  girl,  only  a  child  in  years,  traveling  on  a 
train  in  Mexico,  had  that  child  torn  from  her  and 
outraged  in  her  very  presence,  and  by  an  officer 
(God  save  the  mark!)  of  the  ' liberating  army.1 
Boarding  schools  for  young  ladies  have  been  en 
tered,  and  no  tongue  could  be  vile  enough  to  tell 
what  happened.  Murder  stalks  abroad  on  the 
streets  of  Mexico  City,  and  men  and  women  are 
fleeing  for  their  lives  and — wrhat  is  dearer  than 
life.  Decent  Protestants  felt  outraged  by  the  de 
struction  of  Louvain,  because  a  library  and  a  uni- 


A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  109 

versity  had  been  burned;  but  in  Louvain  it  was 
war,  in  Mexico  it  is  not  war,  but  the  result  of  peace 
— a  peace  which  we  Americans  bought.  And  in 
payment  of  that  '  peace/  must  we  now  tolerate 
unspeakable  indecencies  at  our  very  doors,  inde 
cencies  which  Tiberius,  at  his  worst,  could  not  ex 
cel?  One  American  officer  has  written:  'Nero  is 
born  again  in  Mexico/  Yes,  but  not  one  Nero — 
thousands  of  the  damned  breed. 

"Neither  has  this  story  come  to  us  entirely  from 
priests  nor  even  from  Catholics.  One  of  the  most 
prominent  and  influential  men  in  this  country,  who 
has  been  in  Vera  Cruz,  and  has  seen  the  actual  sit 
uation  and  heard  the  stories  of  the  refugees,  was 
one  of  the  first  to  call  attention  to  it,  and  offer  the 
best  he  had  to  help. ' ' 

There  is  in  the  archives  of  the  Catholic  Church 
at  Washington  a  document  sworn  to  by  the 
Prioress  of  the  Barefooted  Carmelites  of  Quere- 
taro.  This  statement  was  sworn  to  before  Arch 
bishop  Blenk,  of  New  Orleans,  and  witnessed  by 
Dr.  Francis  Kelley,  of  the  Extension  Society.  The 
ecclesiastical  notary  of  the  diocese  of  Havana 
signed  the  document,  and  it  bears  the  seal  of  the 
Diocese  of  Havana. 

The  Prioress  is  now  in  exile  in  Cuba.  President 
Roosevelt  quoted  in  part  from  this  document.  We 
produce  it  in  full  from  Dr.  Kelley 's  authentic  re 
port: 

* '  The  sad  and  lamentable  situation  of  our  Mex- 


110  A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO 

lean  republic  compels  me  to  state  under  oath  the 
conditions  which  exist  in  Mexico  as  a  result  of  the 
diabolical  persecution  of  the  Catholic  Church. 

"Our  temples  are  closed  and  our  churches  pro 
faned.  On  our  altars  the  Holy  Sacrifice  is  no 
longer  offered.  Our  confessionals  have  been 
burned  in  the  public  squares  and  there  is  hardly 
one  that  dares  to  approach  the  Sacrament  of  Pen 
ance,  even  in  the  most  remote  corner  of  a  home. 
The  Immaculate  Lamb  no  longer  comes  to  aid  our 
souls,  and  the  priest  who  dares  offer  the  Holy  Sac 
rifice  is  sentenced  to  death.  Homes  are  desolated, 
mothers  cry  over  the  death  of  their  sons,  husbands 
are  torn  from  their  families  for  service  with  the 
troops,  while  their  children  weep  at  bidding  their 
father  the  last  farewell.  Our  priests  are  perse 
cuted.  They  wander  along  the  road  without  any 
thing  to  eat.  Prelates  have  been  forced  to  abandon 
us  and  it  seems  that  God  Himself  has  hidden. 
Church  bells  no  longer  ring.  The  blood  of  our 
brothers  runs  in  the  streets.  Nuns  are  taken  to 
the  barracks  and  their  virginity  attacked. 

"It  appears  as  if  hell  had  unchained  itself  and 
devils  had  taken  possession  of  men  to  harm  their 
brothers.  Anarchy  and  revenge  have  seized  their 
hearts,  and  the  rich  are  left  in  the  worst  misery. 

' '  Since  Don  Francisco  Madero,  in  1910,  declared 
war  against  Don  Porfirio  Diaz  to  this  date,  we 
have  not  had  a  moment  of  peace,  and  following 
Madero 's  example,  many  others  have  arisen  in 


A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO  111 

arms  to  attack  the  Catholic  Church  on  all  sides — 
some  worse  than  others — so  that  there  is  not  one 
single  state  in  the  republic  that  has  not  been  a  vic 
tim  of  horrible  outrages. 

'  '  The  revolutionists  have  closed  the  temples  and 
prohibited  the  Sacraments  to  the  degree  that  any 
priest  daring  to  hear  confession  or  offer  the  Holy 
Sacrifice  is  shot.  Confessionals  and  some  of  the 
statues  of  the  saints  have  been  burned  in  the  pub 
lic  squares,  accompanied  by  music  and  improper 
speeches.  The  churches  have  been  so  profaned 
that  some  of  the  revolutionists  have  entered  them 
on  horseback.  Statues  were  demolished  and  relics 
trampled  on.  Over  the  floor  the  Holy  Hosts  have 
been  scattered,  and  in  some  instances  have  been 
fed  to  the  horses. 

"In  some  churches  the  Carranzistas  have  im 
personated  priests,  saying  Mass,  and  have  occu 
pied  the  confessionals,  hearing  confessions  and 
disclosing  what  has  been  told  to  them.  (All  of 
this  I  have  seen  with  my  own  eyes.) 

"The  most  beautiful  of  the  temples  in  the  repub 
lic,  the  Church  of  San  Antonio,  at  Aguascalientes, 
has  been  converted  into  the  Legislative  Hall.  The 
Church  of  San  Jose,  in  Queretaro,  is  now  the  pub 
lic  library.  The  wonderful  convent  of  the  Dis- 
calced  Carmelites,  also  in  Queretaro,  has  been 
seized,  and  the  Brothers  of  the  Christian  Doctrine, 
who  owned  a  handsome  Lyceum,  the  approximate 
total  value  of  which  was  over  $500,000,  lost  more 


112  A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

than  $50,000  spent  in  repairing  it.  The  colleges  of 
the  Lazarist  Fathers,  Jesuits,  and  many  others 
have  perished.  The  property  of  the  Church  has 
been  appropriated  and  many  of  the  ecclesiastical 
archives  have  been  burned.  The  orders  of  nuns 
have  been  expelled  from  the  republic,  giving  them 
only  a  half  hour 's  time  to  leave,  and  without  allow 
ing  them  to  take  the  least  piece  of  wearing  ap 
parel.  Many  religious  have  been  taken  to  the  bar 
racks  and  the  prison,  where  their  chastity  has  been 
in  grave  danger.  From  the  Catholic  schools  the 
furniture  has  been  stolen.  Immorality  has  ex 
tended  to  such  a  degree  that  not  only  virginity  has 
been  violated,  but  nuns  have  been  taken  away  by 
force  and  are  being  subjected  to  the  most  horrible 
suffering. 

* i  In  Mexico  City  I  have  seen  with  the  utmost  re 
gret  many  religious  who  have  been  victims  of  the 
unbridled  passions  of  the  soldiers.  Many  I  found 
bemoaning  their  misfortune,  being  about  to  become 
mothers,  some  in  their  own  homes  and  others  in 
maternity  hospitals.  Others  have  allowed  them 
selves  to  be  carried  away  by  their  misfortune  and 
have  given  up  all,  filled  with  desperation  and 
shame.  They  complain  against  God,  saying  that 
they  have  been  abandoned  by  Him. 

"Religious  of  various  orders  have  so  dressed 
themselves,  and  so  go  about,  as  to  hide  the  fact 
that  they  are  nuns,  for  fear  that  the  revolutionists 
may  carry  them  away.  Some  priests  worthy  of 


A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO  113 

full  credit,  have  told  me  that,  in  a  hospital  located 

in ,  there  are  fifty  religious  that  were  taken 

away  by  the  soldiers,  out  of  which  forty-five  are 
about  to  become  mothers,  notwithstanding  the  fact 
that  they  have  religious  vocations  and  were  bound 
by  vows. 

"In  the ,  in  Mexico  City,  are  others  in  this 

same  condition  and  others  also  in  the  hospital  of 

.  In  Celaya  and  Mexico  City  I  have  seen 

many  others  that  were  obliged  to  join  the  Eed 
Cross,  and  under  this  pretext  were  held  as  slaves, 
treated  by  the  soldiers  as  though  they  were  their 
own  women  and  not  giving  any  attention  to  the 
sick.  In  a  great  many  cases  young  women,  after 
having  been  compelled  to  lead  this  life,  were 
thrown  out  into  the  street,  some  being  killed  as 
though  they  were  animals. 

"As  to  the  clergy !  What  have  the  ministers  of 
God  not  suffered?  Fathers  ....  and  ....  (at 
present  in  the  United  States)  can  tell.  They  were 
under  sentence  of  death  only  because  they  directed 
Catholic  labor  societies.  Many  have  been  shot, 
and  those  having  any  property  have  been  exiled, 
and  their  property  seized.  In  Guadalajara  the 
clergy  in  its  entirety  was  exiled,  having  been  com 
pelled  to  leave  in  box  and  cattle  cars,  their  de 
parture  being  accompanied  by  a  band  playing 
burlesque  music  amidst  mockery  and  hooting. 
Eight  days  later  the  religious  were  compelled 
to  leave  and,  thank  God,  women  were  brave 


114  A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO 

enough  to  arm  themselves  with  stones  to  use  if 
music  was  played  upon  their  leaving. 

1 '  The  clergy  in  Torreon  and  Zacatecas  were  of 
fered  for  ransom,  and  after  obtaining  $100,000, 
were  compelled  to  pave  the  streets.  Many  were 
forced  to  enlist  with  the  army,  while  others  were 
shot.  Lastly,  they  were  exiled  without  being 
allowed  to  take  any  clothing  or  money. 

1 '  The  clergy  in  Queretaro  were  imprisoned  and 
exceedingly  heavy  fines  imposed  upon  them,  and 
were  later  exiled. 

1 '  Many  Fathers  have  been  in  the  penitentiary  in 
Mexico  City,  while  others  are  at  present  used  as 
servants.  When  they  are  discharged  they  must  go 
without  clothing — many  of  them  being  obliged  to 
dress  as  women  in  order  to  leave.  In  some  towns 
they  have  been  locked  up  together  with  bad 
women,  and  threatened  with  death  if  they  resisted. 

' '  I  have  seen  used  as  saddle  blankets  and  orna 
ments  on  the  horses,  the  chasubles,  stoles,  mani 
ples,  girdles,  pluvial  capes  and  altar  linen;  while 
women  wore  the  copes,  and  the  corporals  were 
used  as  handkerchiefs.  The  holy  vases  have  been 
profaned  in  sundry  ways.  After  drinking  from 
them,  the  soldiers  used  them  as  night  vessels, 
which  they  afterwards  threw  into  the  street.  In 
some  towTis  the  chalice  has  been  burned  and  the 
Hosts  scattered  on  the  floor.  Soldiers  have  sacri 
legiously  eaten  them  and,  as  before  said,  they  have 
also  been  fed  to  the  horses.  Statues  were  used  as 


A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO  115 

targets  until  they  fell  to  the  floor.  I  have  seen 
wagonloads  of  statues  that  were  on  their  way  to 
be  burned;  some  I  was  fortunate  enough  to  save, 
by  daring  to  address  the  chief,  telling  him  that  I 
would  rather  be  burned  before  the  statue  of  my 
Holy  Mother.  The  best  sculptures  have  been 
taken  away  to  the  museums.  The  Del  Carmen 
Church,  in  Queretaro,  was  to  have  been  trans 
formed  into  a  dance  hall,  but  I  do  not  know 
whether  the  intended  work  has  been  completed.  In 
other  churches  the  images  of  Christ  have  also  boon 
shot  at. 

1  l  On  the  road  from to  Mexico  City  I  found 

seven  religious  who  asked  to  be  directed  to  a  ma 
ternity  hospital,  claiming  not  to  be  religious,  but 
the  fact  that  they  were  religious  was  very  evident 
from  their  manner  of  speaking.  They  related  to 
me  how  they  were  able  to  escape  from  the  moun 
tains  where  the  revolutionists  had  held  them.  I 
tried  to  console  them,  but  it  was  useless.  They 
said  that  they  were  already  condemned  and  aban 
doned  by  God,  and  were  in  such  a  despairing  con 
dition  that  they  cursed  the  hour  of  their  profes 
sion. 

"All  these  horrible  things  have  compelled  me  to 

come  to as  a  refugee,  bringing  with  me  seven 

religious,  of  whom  I  was  Prioress,  in  order  to 
bring  them  to  safety  and  away  from  the  personal 
persecution  that  some  were  subjected  to.  It  is  a 
fact  that  they  were  being  searched  for  by  means 


116  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

of  photographs,  and  when  found  would  have  been 
taken  away  and  killed  if  they  resisted. 

"Our  community,  the ,  was  located  in  the 

city  of ,  where  I  left  on  July  9  for ,  in  the 

hopes  of  making  a  new  home,  bringing  with  me  ten 
postulants  and  other  religious,  to  get  away  from 

the  danger  which  threatened  them  in .  I  left 

there  other  religious  awaiting  the  results  of  my 

new  foundation  in ,  who  were  to  join  me  later. 

Only  with  great  difficulty  was  I  able  to  keep  them 
together  and  alive,  as  their  families  had  lost  all 
their  property;  consequently  their  dowries  were 
gone  and  I  had  not  even  a  single  cent.  On  the  27th 
of  July  all  the  orders  were  expelled  from ,  in 
cluding  ourselves,  and  we  were  given  twenty-four 
hours '  time  to  leave  the  country. 

"Not  having  any  means,  I  presented  myself  to 
the  local  military  chief, ,  begging  him  to  inter 
cede  in  our  favor  with  Governor ,  so  that  we 

might  be  allowed  two  or  three  months  to  look 
for  funds  with  which  to  leave  the  country.  This 
gentleman  told  me  that  he  was  a  Catholic,  and  ad 
vised  me  to  leave  the  republic  as  soon  as  possible 
if  we  did  not  want  to  suffer  the  same  outrages  that 
many  others  went  through  in  other  places.  He 
offered  me  all  kinds  of  guarantees  and  told  me 
how  to  save  my  nuns  from  the  many  dangers  that 
threatened  them. 

"To  this  gentleman  I  also  came  after  having 
scaled  the  walls  of  the  Church  of in  order  to 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  117 

save  four  sculptures  and  other  altar  ornaments. 
In  this  case  I  was  incurring  a  fault  which  was  sub 
ject  to  the  death  penalty  as  punishment.  Not  only 
was  I  forgiven  for  this,  but  he  gave  me  a  safe  con 
duct  to  avoid  being  molested  by  any  one.  I  take 
the  liberty  of  recommending  him  as  a  good  man. 
I  am  very  grateful  to  him. 

"On  the  28th  of  August,  I  returned  to to 

bring  the  other  religious  that  remained  there  in 
order  that  we  might  leave  the  republic  together. 

Our  religious  were  badly  persecuted  in and 

had  to  be  divided  and  placed  in  private  homes  to 
avoid  their  being  taken  to  the  barracks. 

"I  returned  to with  my  nuns,  and  on  the 

road  I  met  several  spies  who  injured  us  greatly. 
In  a  rented  house  we  only  had  three  rooms  for 
twenty-four  religious  and  novices,  and  each  day 
I  had  to  go  out  in  search  for  bread  to  eat.  They 
were  deprived  of  hearing  Mass  and  receiving 
Communion.  God  only  knows  what  I  suffered  to 
liberate  them  from  danger  and  obtain  food. 

"For  twenty-two  days  I  was  scarcely  able  to 
sleep,  fearing  that  at  any  moment  the  house  would 
be  attacked  and  the  nuns  stolen.  They  were 
obliged  to  sleep  on  the  floor  of  one  room  after 
offering  to  God  the  sacrifices  of  the  day. 

"Some  days  I  was  obliged  to  change  houses  as 
often  as  three  times,  since  our  hiding  places  had 
been  discovered,  which  fact  the  officer  (my  friend) 
would  tell  me.  The  spies  denounced  us  again.  I 


118  A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO 

was  compelled  to  leave  with  seven  for  the  , 

and  beg  of  foreign  prelates  that  they  permit  me  to 
make  a  new  home,  where  I  could  safely  place  the 
other  religious  that  I  had  under  my  charge,  and 

who  are  at  present  hiding  in  the  city  of  , 

Mexico. 

"I  leave  to  God  the  fulfillment  of  His  holy  will 
and,  in  the  meantime,  pray  Him  to  remedy  the 
troubles  of  the  Mexican  Republic  and  preserve  the 
President  of  the  United  States  of  America,  so  that 
he  may  stop  the  numerous  calamities  that  have 
fallen  upon  the  Mexican  Church. ' ' 

In  the  archives  of  the  State  Department  at 
Washington  is  the  following: 

WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  October  8, 1914. 
To  His  Excellency,  The  Hon.  W.  J.  Bryan,  Secre 
tary  of  State: 

SIR — On  July  22  last  I  had  the  honor  of  address 
ing  your  Excellency  on  the  subject  of  the  persecu 
tion  of  the  Catholics  in  Mexico  as  practised  by  the 
revolutionary  parties  now  in  power  in  that  coun 
try. 

The  Third  Assistant  Secretary  of  State,  under 
date  of  July  24,  acknowledged  receipt  of  my  letter. 

Since  then  I  have  made  the  acquaintance  of  the 
Eev.  R.  H.  Tierney,  editor  of  the  Catholic  paper 
America,  published  in  New  York  City,  who  writes 
me  that  he  visited  you  concerning  this  subject,  and 
that  your  Excellency  wished  to  hear  me  on  the 
same  matter.  I  have  thought  it  well,  therefore,  to 


A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO  119 

note  down  for  your  convenience  the  principal 
points,  and  I  wish  to  say  that  I  have  written  down 
nothing  of  which  I  am  not  fully  aware  and  can 
vouch  for  personally.  I  have  lived  in  Mexico 
twenty-three  years,  am  a  German  by  birth,  by 
religion  a  Lutheran,  and  am  sixty  years  of  age. 

I  know  of  Catholic  clergymen  who,  under  pain 
of  death,  were  forced  to  sweep  the  streets  of  a  city 
and  do  menial  work  for  common,  illiterate 
soldiers. 

Of  a  bishop,  seventy  years  old,  deported  to  the 
penal  colony  on  the  Pacific  Coast. 

Of  several  priests  in  the  Monterey  penitentiary 
as  late  as  August  30  last. 

Of  a  parish  priest,  eighty  years  old,  so  tortured 
that  he  lost  his  reason. 

Of  many  deported  to  Texas,  both  Mexicans  and 
foreigners. 

Of  priests  and  sisters  tortured  by  hanging  and 
strangling. 

Of  a  priest  in  hiding  who  was  enticed  out  to  con 
fess  a  person  and  instead  was  thrown  into  a  dun 
geon. 

Of  forty  Sisters  of  Charity  who  have  been  vio 
lated,  of  which  number  four  are  known  to  me,  and 
one  of  these  has  become  demented. 

I  have  been  instrumental  in  saving  six  sisters 
and  seven  girl  pupils  from  the  same  fate. 

Of  an  Englishman,  who  tried  to  save  the  per 
sonal  effects  of  these  thirteen  women,  being  fined 
$2,000  for  the  attempt. 


120  A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO 

Of  all  the  confessionals  of  the  Monterey  district 
churches  being  piled  in  a  public  square  and 
burned. 

Of  valuable  paintings  stolen  from  churches  and 
supposedly  brought  to  the  United  States  by  fili 
busters. 

Of  Constitutionalist  soldiers,  led  by  a  man  who 
is  now  Governor  of  a  State  in  Mexico,  doing  on 
the  altar  what  decency  does  not  permit  me  to  say. 

Of  doing  the  same  at  another  church,  into  the 
chalice,  and  making  the  priest  drink  of  it. 

Of  decrees  published  by  those  now  Governors  of 
States,  prohibiting  the  practice  of  religion,  and 
closing  the  churches,  convents  and  schools. 
I  am  respectfully  your  humble  servant, 

(Signed)     MARTIN  STECKER, 
117  B  Street  S.  E. 

District  of  Columbia: 

Martin  Stecker,  being  first  duly  sworn,  deposes 
and  says  that  the  foregoing  is  a  true  copy  of  a 
letter  sent  by  him  to  the  Hon.  Wni.  J.  Bryan,  and 
that  the  same  is  in  all  substantial  particulars  a 
true  statement  of  facts. 

(Signed)     MARTIN  STECKER. 

Subscribed  and  sworn  to  before  me  this  28th 
day  of  October,  1914. 

CHARLES  M.  BIRCKHEAD, 

Notary  Public,  D.  C. 

For  this  testimony  we  are  also  indebted  to  Dr. 
Kelley. 


CHAPTER  V. 

One  morning  as  Miriam  and  Inez  came  out  from 
Mass  they  were  advised  that  Joseph  and  Harold 
Wilding  had  arrived  and  that  Mr.  Wilding  sought 
an  interview.  He  was  at  once  received.  He 
looked  very  grave,  and  spoke  in  slow,  measured 
tones.  The  dreadful  sorrow  through  which  Inez 
had  passed  and  her  present  defenseless  state  in 
the  terrible  danger  that  was  menacing  intensified 
his  love  of  the  beautiful  girl.  All  his  thoughts 
of  her  now  converged  to  one  point  to  save  her, 
even  at  the  expense  of  his  life.  A  noble  fatherly, 
protecting  sentiment  mingled  with  the  ardent, 
aggressive  feeling  of  the  lover. 

At  his  coming  Inez  felt  a  sense  of  protection. 
The  old  barrier  of  the  diversity  of  belief  still  pre 
vented  that  perfect  trust  that  is  necessary  for  true 
friendship;  and  even  then,  when  the  condition  of 
the  time  made  it  imperative  to  consider  so  many 
other  issues,  Inez  found  herself  mainly  occupied 
with  a  concern  for  her  friend's  state  of  soul. 

"I  have  not  fulfilled  your  request,  Senorita," 
Wilding  began  after  the  first  greeting,  "and  I 
come  to  explain.  Both  in  Mexico  and  in  my  own 
country  there  is  a  great  misunderstanding  of  the 
character  of  the  revolutionists  of  Mexico.  The 


122  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

bandit  Villa  cares  nothing  for  Mexico.  He  is  in 
capable  of  patriotism.  If  it  served  his  purpose 
to  join  the  Federalists,  he  would  go  to  them.  With 
him  it  is  not  a  question  of  principle.  He  is  with 
Carranza  now,  but  in  his  heart  he  cares  nothing 
for  Carranza.  The  day  will  soon  come  when  he 
will  renounce  his  allegiance  to  Carranza.  Villa 
aims  only  at  loot  and  the  gratification  of  his  brutal 
instincts.  He  is  an  ignorant  man ;  the  document? 
that  come  forth  in  his  name  are  written  by  the 
base  sycophants  who  are  attracted  to  him  by  the 
hope  of  plunder  and  a  still  greater  crime.  He  was 
a  poor  bandit  of  the  hills  until  this  war  brought 
him  into  prominence.  He  is  now  a  millionaire. 
Villa  has  never  respected  the  honor  of  woman. 
You  remember  our  common  friend,  Isabelle  de 

V .  She  is  now  one  of  that  large  number  of 

unfortunate  wretches  whom  Villa  calls  his  women. 
She  sold  herself  into  that  dishonorable  state  to 
save  her  father  from  destruction." 

A  fierce  flush  of  indignation  lighted  up  the  face 
of  the  sisters.  And  with  it  came  a  blush  of  shame 
that  a  Christian  woman  should  value  any  con 
sideration  higher  than  her  honor. 

"We  have  come  into  decadent  days,  Mr.  Wild 
ing,"  said  Miriam.  "I  am  ashamed  of  the  women 
of  Mexico,  even  of  the  religious.  I  have  heard  of 
the  fearful  deeds  that  have  been  done  against 
them;  but  it  seems  that  they  have  not  shown  that 
strength  of  virtue  which  the  honor  of  womanhood 


A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO  123 

demands.  I  can  understand  how  a  man,  physical 
ly  being  the  stronger,  may  destroy  the  life  of  a 
woman.  That  is  nothing.  If  we  value  our  mor 
tal  life  too  highly  we  disobey  the  teachings  of 
Christ:  'For  whosoever  would  save  his  life  shall 
lose  it;  and  whosoever  shall  lose  his  life  for  my 
sake  shall  find  it.'— Matt.  XVI.  25.  In  the  ter 
rible  centuries  of  persecution  of  the  early  Chris 
tians  we  read  of  many  virgins  who  were  put  to 
death,  but  we  read  nothing  of  the  foul  history  that 
is  daily  being  enacted  in  our  own  country.  God 
forbid  that  I  should  pass  judgment  on  those  who 
have  suffered ;  but  it  seems  to  me  that  if  the  spirit 
of  faith  and  chastity  that  was  in  the  early  Chris 
tians  were  in  the  womanhood  of  Mexico  today,  we 
might  hear  of  more  murders,  but  of  fewer  living 
victims  of  the  demons  who  destroy  our  land. 

"When  the  Saracens  attacked  the  convent  of 
St.  Clara  in  Assisi,  St.  Clara,  being  too  ill  to  walk, 
was  carried  to  the  door  of  the  convent,  and  there 
holding  in  its  receptacle  the  Blessed  Eucharist 
she  prayed :  '  Lord,  deliver  not  to  beasts  the  souls 
who  trust  in  Thee,  and  protect  Thy  servants  whom 
by  Thy  precious  blood  Thou  hast  redeemed. ' 
That  woman 's  prayer  routed  the  Saracens.  The 
arm  of  the  Lord  is  not  shortened.  We  fail  be 
cause  the  faith  of  St.  Clara  has  disappeared  from 
the  earth. ' ' 

During  Miriam's  earnest  speech  Harold  Wild 
ing  intently  listened,  and  as  he  listened  a  strange 


124  A   DAUGHTER   OP    MEXICO 

feeling  of  admiration  for  Miriam's  faith  entered 
his  soul.  He  had  always  been  a  man  of  honor 
and  noble  impulses ;  but  all  his  goodness  rested  on 
a  mere  natural  basis.  He  had  never  seriously 
considered  the  question  of  creed.  He  was  prac 
tically  what  most  men  outside  the  Catholic  Church 
are,  an  agnostic.  Religion  seemed  to  him  a  weak 
thing,  necessary  perhaps  for  children  and  for 
adults  whose  mentality  was  of  low  calibre;  the 
"foolishness  of  the  cross "  was  a  block  of 
stumbling  to  him.  In  the  present  crisis  he  saw 
the  injustice  that  was  done  the  Catholic  Church, 
and  his  natural  sense  of  right  was  moved  to 
oppose  the  injustice.  As  an  impartial  observer 
of  the  course  of  things,  he  saw  that  the  motive  of 
the  Revolutionists  had  not  been  to  purify  the 
Church  or  to  reform  the  laws  of  Mexico. 

These  were  mere  pretenses.  The  Revolutionists 
wanted  money;  money  for  themselves,  money  for 
the  expenses  of  the  war.  The  Church  in  Mexico 
was  not  rich;  the  laws  of  Benito  Juarez  cur 
tailed  the  liberty  of  the  Church,  and  limited  its 
activities.  But  the  devotion  of  the  faithful  and 
the  splendid  efforts  of  many  noble  souls  had  accu 
mulated  some  means  necessary  for  the  mainte 
nance  of  churches,  schools,  hospitals,  and  asylums. 
The  Constitution  forbade  general  confiscation,  and 
therefore  Villareal,  the  Robespierre  of  the  Mex 
ican  revolution,  openly  declared  that  they  ' l  wished 
to  live  a  little  while  without  the  Constitution. ' ' 


A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO  125 

The  ignorant  Villa  longed  for  the  spoliation, 
but  he  needed  the  help  of  the  cleverer  villain, 
Villareal,  to  direct  the  nefarious  policy. 

" Ladies, "  resumed  Harold  Wilding,  "I  went 
not  to  plead  with  Villa,  because  I  knew  the  futility 
of  such  act.  He  reminds  me  of  those  lines  of  the 
immortal  poet: 

"  'You  may  as  well  go  stand  upon  the  beach 
And  bid  the  main  flood  bate  his  usual  height ; 
You  may  as  well  use  question  with  the  wolf 
Why  he  hath  made  the  ewe  bleat  for  the  lamb ; 
You  may  as  well  forbid  the  mountain  pines 
To  wag  their  high  tops  and  to  make  no  noise, 
When  they  are  f  retten  with  the  gusts  of  heaven ; 
You  may  as  well  do  anything  most  hard, 
As  seek  to  soften  that — than  which  what 's  harder  ? 
His  Jewish  heart.' 

u  Villa  is  deaf  to  appeals.  Carranza,  the  wily 
hypocrite,  dissembles  and  pretends  to  aim  at  a 
lofty  policy,  when  in  reality  he  is  plotting  the  de 
struction  of  his  country  to  satisfy  his  unholy  am 
bition.  He  has  deceived  my  own  Country  into  be- 
lioving  that  he  is  actuated  by  a  desire  to  im 
prove  the  condition  of  the  peons  and  to  enact  just 
agrarian  laws.  The  falsity  of  this  pretense  may 
be  judged  from  their  action  in  Yucatan.  The 
leading  industry  of  Yucatan  is  the  growing  of 
hemp.  It  is  the  most  prosperous  province  in 
Mexico.  The  people  were  peaceful,  and  Yucatan 
was  taken  by  the  Revolutionists  without  fighting. 
The  Revolutionists  immediately  demanded  a  loan 


126  A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO 

of  $8,000,000.  The  hemp  growers  complained,  but 
to  no  avail.  Carranza  suppressed  the  press  and 
exiled  the  priests.  As  your  own  sad  history 
proves,  the  campaign  of  the  Revolutionists  is 
predatory.  They  are  robbers,  and  will  rob  every 
one  possessed  of  any  goods.  The  leaders  keep 
their  wild  soldiery  in  their  following  by  the  hope 
of  plunder.  The  decent  people  of  Mexico  are  not 
with  the  Eevolutionists.  The  ladies  of  Yucatan 
sent  the  following  request  to  the  Governor  of 
Yucatan : 
'To  the  Honorable  Governor: 

t  We  have  come  to  intercede  on  behalf  of  those 
who  have  lived  on  the  Yucatan  soil,  loving  it  as 
their  own,  dividing  the  sorrows  and  happiness  of 
our  land  with  us,  with  no  other  end  than  to  propa 
gate  the  doctrine  of  love,  peace  and  mercy;  with 
no  other  idea  than  to  give  consolation  to  the  fallen, 
courage  to  the  harassed,  and  hope  to  the  despair 
ing  ;  with  no  other  arms  of  defense  than  the  image 
of  Him  who  ordered  us  to  love  one  another  as 
brothers;  with  no  other  politics  than  planting 
seeds  of  goodness,  charity  and  the  fulfilment  of 
our  duty;  and  with  no  other  defense  or  shelter 
than  faith  in  our  laws  and  the  guarantees  of  the 
Yucatan  land  as  a  mother  to  all  living  on  her  soil. 
Those  men  to-day,  against  whom  no  shade  of 
wrong  can  be  found  in  Yucatan  or  anywhere  else, 
in  whose  lives  society  has  never  found  the  least 
flaw,  are  cruelly  expelled  from  this  land  without 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  127 

any  wrong-doing,  but  solely  for  political  reasons 
to  which  they  are  entirely  foreign.  Our  spirit 
cannot  conciliate  this  with  the  points  of  liberty 
and  democracy  stated  in  the  Constitution.  Those 
for  whom  we  ask  justice  have  had  no  part  in  the 
battles  that  have  stained  with  blood  our  country 
and  filled  our  homes  with  sorrow  and  pain.  Here 
in  Yucatan  we  do  not  and  cannot  understand  the 
danger  that  would  compel  the  exiling  of  the 
priests,  as  from  these  priests  that  are  to-day 
exiled  we  have  only  received  lessons  of  piety, 
beneficial  deeds  and  a  public  education.  We  de 
sire  for  our  children,  for  our  brothers,  and  for  all 
the  sons  of  this  Yucatan  soil  who  want  to  keep 
their  beliefs  and  their  ideals  as  their  richest  social 
inheritance,  the  Christian  education  which  is  the 
most  becoming  for  the  safeguarding  of  dignity 
and  nobility  of  life.  You,  Senor  Governor,  no 
doubt  retain  amongst  your  most  pleasing  remem 
brances  those  of  your  school  days,  and  from  which 
you  have  unquestionably  found  much  consolation 
more  than  once.  Therefore,  Sir,  we  dare  invoke 
the  sweet,  maternal  love  that,  even  after  death, 
lives  in  your  mind  as  a  benediction  from  the  re 
gions  of  eternity,  and  are,  therefore,  sending  to 
you  our  manifestation  of  pain  and  respectful  sup 
plication  against  the  expulsion  of  foreign  priests. 
We  ask  in  the  name  of  all  Yucatan,  in  the  name 
of  all  that  live  and  love  our  land,  and  in  the  name 
of  the  blessed  woman  to  whom  you  gave  the  sweet 


128  A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO 

title  of  ' mother,'  and  who  from  Heaven  joins  us 
in  our  request,  that  you  do  not  consent  to  close 
the  Yucatan  soil  to  those  priests,  and  that  they 
may  not  receive  as  compensation  for  their  labors 
for  good  and  peace,  the  bitterness  of  exile.  We 
ask  that  you  do  this  for  our  people  in  the  same 
spirit  as  if  you  were  placing  the  case  before  your 
own  father,  and  as  if  you  wanted  to  deed  a  title  of 
just  pride  to  your  son.' 

'Requested  in  Merida  on  the  5th  of  the  month 
of  October,  1914. ' 

"The  Revolutionists  hated  the  Jesuits  because 
the  Jesuits  taught  the  sons  of  the  decent  people 
of  Mexico.  The  Revolutionists  were  not  able  to 
bring  any  charge  against  the  Jesuit  Fathers,  yet 
they  confiscated  their  college  at  Saltillo,  took  the 
three  thousand  and  eighty  pesos  which  they  had. 
and  then  they  sent  them  to  beg  ransom  money  in 
the  streets.  Priests  who  were  sick  were  abused 
and  threatened  with  death.  Villa  himself  ordered 
them  to  be  tortured,  and  ordered  the  soldiers  to 
take  a  sick  priest  out  to  be  shot.  They  were 
thrown  into  a  freight  car  without  food;  women 
of  abandoned  life,  who  consorted  with  the  officers, 
insulted  the  priests.  Thus  they  were  taken  to 
Juarez  and  expelled  from  Mexico. 

"They  looted  Monsignor  Plancarte's  library  at 
Monterey,  destroyed  his  most  valuable  manu 
scripts:  Mexican  deputies  to  Congress  and  gov 
ernment  secretaries  shared  in  the  robbery.  Arch- 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  129 

bishop  Plancarte  was  an  eminent  scientist,  and 
never  meddled  in  politics.  To-day  he  is  a  beggar 
in  exile,  and  the  results  of  his  life 's  scientific  labors 
are  destroyed.  The  Constitutionalist  Calderon, 
an  ex-convict,  looted  the  fine  Jesuit  college  at 
Guadalajara,  and  allowed  the  destruction  of  its 
fine  scientific  apparatus.  The  officers  and  the 
shameless  women  who  follow  them  were  quartered 
in  the  college. 

"They  sacked  the  Ecclesiastical  Seminary,  one 
of  the  finest  in  Mexico,  and  destroyed  its  splendid 
library.  They  threw  one  hundred  and  twenty 
priests  at  once  into  the  Escobedo  prison,  although 
they  themselves  declared  that  there  was  no  cause 
against  them. 

"Such  are  the  deeds  of  Carranza,  Villa,  Villa- 
real,  Obregon,  Lucio  Blanco,  Rafael  Buelma,  Ben 
jamin  Hill  and  Dieguez.  It  is  useless  to  ask  jus 
tice  of  these  ghouls. 

'  '  One  of  the  saddest  thoughts  of  my  life  is  that 
my  Nation  has  been  deceived  to  believe  that  these 
demons  are  actuated  by  a  desire  to  uplift  the 
people  of  Mexico. 

"I  grow  sick  at  heart  contemplating  the  injus 
tice  and  the  falsehood  which  underlies  this  whole 
movement  in  Mexico.  And  I  believe  that  there  is 
no  hope  for  the  wretched  land  except  in  inter 
vention.  I  am  aware  that  even  those  who  have 
been  robbed  and  exiled  resent  the  idea  of  interven 
tion.  So  strong  is  the  national  feeling  in  the 


130  A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

Mexican,  and  so  deep  is  the  resentment  handed 
down  of  the  mighty  wrongs  which  the  United 
States  did  to  Mexico  in  the  past,  that  no  Mexican 
wishes  the  intervention  of  the  United  States.  And 
yet  it  is  the  only  hope.  That  intervention  should 
guarantee  to  Mexico  a  just  government ;  it  should 
punish  with  severity  all  crimes  against  public 
order,  and  should  restore  peace  and  preserve  it  by 
adequate  force.  But  how  can  we  expect  my  Coun 
try  to  come  to  the  aid  of  Mexico  when  the  man 
chosen  by  the  President  of  the  United  States  to 
investigate  the  affairs  reports  that  '  the  discipline 
and  restraint  shown  by  the  victorious  Constitu 
tionalist  armies  and  their  chiefs  were  most  credit 
able  and  encouraging.'  By  that  statement  that 
envoy,  of  whom  I  am  ashamed,  deserves  to  be 
ranked  with  those  lying  witnesses  whom  Annas 
and  Caiphas  brought  to  testify  against  Jesus 
Christ. 

"I  am  a  Protestant  and  a  Freemason,  and  all 
the  traditions  of  my  life  have  been  adverse  to  the 
Catholic  Church.  But  from  a  careful  study  of  the 
Mexican  people  I  am  persuaded  that  the  Catholic 
religion  is  the  only  religious  force  that  can  deal 
with  the  Mexican.  I  am  also  persuaded  that  a 
monarchy  is  the  form  of  government  most  suited 
to  the  genius  of  the  Mexican  nation.  All  weak 
races  thrive  best  under  a  monarchy.  Witness  the 
violent  changes  of  government  since  Iturbide  was 
shot  in  1824.  Since  that  day  there  have  been 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  131 

about  three  hundred  successful  or  abortive  revolu 
tions. 

"The  same  spirit  that  fills  Haiti  with  anarchy 
and  bloodshed  is  in  Mexico.  It  is  more  or  less  in 
every  Latin- American  state.  The  races  of  mixed 
blood  are  not  strong  enough  to  conduct  a  republic. 
The  fact  that  a  man  of  their  own  rank  has  ob 
tained  a  post  of  power  fills  the  others  with  a  de 
sire  of  mounting  to  where  he  has  ascended.  Con 
sequently  we  find  men  honored  with  the  name  of 
general  of  armies  who  are  mere  nobodies.  The 
man  who  benefited  Mexico  more  than  any  other 
man  since  its  independence,  I  mean  Porfirio  Diaz, 
was  in  effect  a  monarch.  From  1876  to  1911  with 
one  interregnum,  from  1880  to  1884,  he  ruled 
Mexico  as  a  dictator.  He  was  a  Freemason,  and 
yet  he  believed  in  justice  to  the  Catholic  Church. 
In  the  beginning  he  was  not  so  favorable  to  that 
Church,  but  years  of  experience  in  ruling  sobered 
him  and  gave  a  just  poise  to  his  judgment.  His 
strong  hand  put  an  end  to  the  frequent  revolu 
tions,  established  the  national  credit,  and  laid  a 
good  foundation  for  establishing  an  industrious, 
intelligent  middle  class.  When  he  was  aiming  at 
the  best  things  in  all  his  career  the  usurper,  Fran 
cisco  Madero,  was  able  to  group  enough  of  the 
lawless  element  about  him  to  overthrow  Diaz. 

"Madero  did  nothing  good  for  Mexico.  His 
overthrow  was  a  great  benefit  to  the  land.  I  do 
not  approve  the  manner  of  his  death,  but  there  is 


132  A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

no  proof  that  General  Huerta  directly  aided  or 
abetted  it.  It  was  a  great  mistake  not  to  recog 
nize  Huerta.  He  was  not  as  capable  a  man  as 
Diaz,  but  he  aimed  to  give  Mexico  a  just  govern 
ment. 

1 '  Considering  how  strong  the  idea  of  democracy 
is  rooted  in  the  New  World,  there  is  no  hope  of 
making  Mexico  a  monarchy.  Political  life  here 
is  so  violent  and  so  corrupt  that  I  know  of  no 
Mexican  now  living  who  could,  without  the  aid 
of  the  United  States,  restore  order  and  establish 
a  just  and  stable  government.  There  are  some 
Mexicans  of  ability  and  integrity,  but  they  are 
held  aloof  from  all  participation  in  public  affairs 
by  the  thieves  who  now  hold  power. 

"Ladies,  believing  that  I  can  serve  you  and 
your  country  best  by  pleading  your  cause  in  my 
own  Country,  I  contemplate  a  journey  to  the 
United  States.  Before  beginning  the  journey  I 
should  like  to  discuss  with  you  the  important  ques 
tion  of  religion.  A  strange  indefinable  feeling 
has  come  into  my  soul  touching  the  question  of 
religion.  I  feel  this  always  more  intensely  when 
I  have  the  honor  to  be  in  your  presence.  I  do  not 
believe  that  I  could  ever  accept  the  Catholic  re 
ligion.  It  seems  to  me  that  a  Catholic  must  re 
nounce  his  own  personality,  and  allow  others  to 
think  for  him.  I  once  read  a  little  card,  given  me 
by  a  Catholic  acquaintance,  which  declared  that  if 
a  man  performed  a  certain  devotion  for  nine  con- 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  133 

secutive  Fridays  he  would  be  saved.  It  was  so 
childish  that  in  respect  for  religion  I  destroyed 
the  card.  It  seemed  to  me  to  stand  on  the  same 
footing  as  the  prayer  wheels  of  the  Buddhist 
monks  of  Thibet.  Perhaps  I  am  speaking  too 
frankly,  but  I  am  truthfully  stating  my  own  feel 
ings.  Now  there  is  an  unknown  world  in  the 
Catholic  faith,  and  I  would  know  that  world.  I 
know  that  you  are  sincere,  devout  Catholics,  and 
I  know  that  your  honorable  nature  would  not  ap 
prove  anything  that  is  dishonest  or  hypocritical. 
I  knew  your  honorable  father,  and  I  have  often 
wished  to  believe  as  he  believed.  And  yet  my 
efforts  to  get  a  deeper  insight  into  the  Catholic 
religion  have  been  unfortunate.  In  my  native 
city  was  a  home  for  the  aged,  conducted  by 
Roman  Catholic  nuns.  A  poor,  nervous  girl  was 
admitted  there  together  with  her  mother.  The 
first  thing  the  good  nuns  did  was  to  endeavor  to 
get  a  deed  of  the  sick  woman's  property.  They 
were  only  frustrated  in  this  by  the  intervention 
of  the  bishop  of  the  diocese.  The  poor  girl  to 
day  is  in  the  State  Hospital  for  the  Insane.  I  was 
once  taken  to  a  hospital  of  nuns  who  incorporate 
the  sweet  name  of  charity  in  their  corporate  title. 
It  is  a  common  saying  that  all  corporations  are 
greedy,  and  I  must  declare  that  the  aforesaid  cor 
poration  deserved  the  reproach.  I  saw  many  in 
dividual  acts  of  mercy  done  by  some  of  the  nuns, 
but  the  spirit  which  dominated  the  administration 


134  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

of  the  institution  was  a  desire  of  temporal  goods 
for  the  order.  A  charitable  priest  came  there  and 
begged  them  to  receive  a  charity  patient,  and  he 
was  refused  on  the  ground  that  it  was  not  a  good 
business  proposition.  Ladies,  is  it  not  true  that 
the  impression  prevails  almost  universally  among 
devout  Catholics  that  Eoman  Catholic  religious 
corporations  are  unusually  eager  to  enrich  their 
respective  orders!  Is  it  not  true  that  jealousy, 
envy  and  greed  among  them  have  hindered  their 
proper  labors  for  religion?  Is  it  not  true  that  the 
order  which  has  the  custody  of  the  holy  places  in 
the  East  is  far  more  zealous  in  strengthening  their 
order  with  the  offerings  of  the  faithful  than  in 
building  up  the  universal  church!  Does  not  the 
very  spirit  of  monasticism  narrow  a  man,  and 
substitute  for  the  love  of  the  universal  church  a 
corporate  zeal  for  a  particular  religious  order? 

''In  the  year  of  the  Christian  era,  1806,  a  poor 
orphan  Indian  boy  was  taken  in  charge  by  a  char 
itable  friar.  The  boy  was  a  full-blooded  Indian. 
His  name,  as  you  know,  was  Benito  Juarez.  He 
possessed  natural  genius,  and  his  capable  master 
made  him  a  master  of  the  law. 

"In  1857  President  Ignacio  Comonfort  estab 
lished  the  famous  separation  of  the  Church  and 
the  State  in  Mexico.  That  separation  seems  to 
us  in  the  United  States  to  be  the  best  relation  of 
the  two  entities.  But  President  Comonfort  was 
followed  in  office  by  that  Indian  orphan  boy, 


A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  135 

Benito  Juarez;  and  then  a  set  of  laws  was  sanc 
tioned  by  him  which  are  opposed  to  all  equity  and 
right,  These  are  called  the  'Laws  of  Reform,' 
one  of  the  many  misnomers  of  history.  The  laws 
of  Juarez  recognize  no  religious  corporation. 

"Ladies,  as  a  citizen  of  the  greatest  Republic 
on  earth,  and  as  a  Protestant,  I  recognize  that 
those  laws  are  unjust.  My  Country  has  never  felt 
it  necessary  for  the  welfare  of  the  state  to  limit 
the  development  of  the  proper  activities  of  the 
Church.  Some  injustice  we  may  have  done,  and 
may  still  do,  but  there  is  nothing  of  that  despotic 
crushing  of  the  rights  of  religion  which  we  find 
here.  The  spirit  of  the  laws  of  Juarez  is  that  the 
Church  should  endure,  but  as  a  helpless  slave  of 
the  republic,  and  should  be  deprived  of  that  free 
dom  which  the  mission  of  any  church  must  de 
mand. 

"And  yet  the  man  who  made  those  laws  was  a 
Catholic,  and  had  received  everything  from  a 
Catholic  monk.  How  shall  we  explain  the  enigma  ? 
Shall  we  find  some  explanation  in  the  greed  of 
religious  corporations,  in  that  narrowness  and 
selfishness  that  often  characterize  members  of 
religious  orders,  and  oftentimes  bishops  and  secu 
lar  priests?  Have  not  wise  and  just  legislators 
of  other  lands  feared  the  growing  power  of  the 
temporalities  of  the  Church,  and  the  arrogance  of 
the  power  that  these  gave  to  men  f  Was  it  not  the 
evils  which  grew  out  of  the  accumulation  of 


136  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

wealth  in  the  Church  that  rent  the  Church 
asunder,  and  placed  me  where  I  am,  with  no  fixed 
belief,  and  with  the  inherited  tendencies  of  genera 
tions  holding  me  back  and  making  me  distrust 
the  only  Church  which  has  a  history,  and  which 
joins  our  age  to  the  age  of  Christ? 

"0,  to  have  lived  in  the  days  of  Paul;  to  have 
heard  from  him,  and  to  have  seen  in  him  that  in 
tense  unworldliness : 

"  'Howbeit  what  things  were  gain  to  me,  these 
have  I  counted  loss  for  Christ.  Yea  verily,  and  I 
count  all  things  to  be  loss  for  the  excellency  of  the 
knowledge  of  Christ  Jesus  my  Lord:  for  whom  I 
suffered  the  loss  of  all  things,  and  do  count  them 
but  dung,  that  I  may  gain  Christ,  and  be  found  in 
him,  not  having  a  righteousness  of  mine  own,  even 
that  which  is  of  the  law,  but  that  which  is  through 
faith  in  Christ,  the  righteousness  which  is  of  God 
by  faith :  that  I  may  know  him,  and  the  power  of 
his  resurrection,  and  the  fellowship  of  his  suffer 
ings,  becoming  conformed  unto  his  death .  *  *  * » 
— Phillipp.  III.  7-11. 

"  As  a  man  on  the  outside,  I  have  deeply  studied 
the  Catholic  Church  in  the  United  States  and  here. 
I  have  felt  drawn  to  her  and  at  the  same  time  re 
pelled.  The  absolutism  of  her  dogma  and  of  her 
code  of  morals  would  allure  me,  were  her  minis 
ters  men  of  high  spiritual  character.  I  may  have 
been  exceptionally  unfortunate,  but  it  has  been 
my  lot  seldom  to  meet  among  the  ministers  of  the 
Catholic  Church  men  of  great  spiritual  person- 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  137 

ality.  I  have  observed  with  regret  the  arts  by 
which  men  attain  to  episcopal  sees.  There  are 
cliques,  and  friends  at  court,  and  the  favor  of  a 
venal  press,  and  the  cringing  to  those  in  power, 
and  the  eager  grasping  at  popular  favor  which 
easily  deceives  a  world  that  wishes  to  be  deceived. 
I  speak  as  one  of  a  mighty  multitude  who  are 
weary  of  the  uncertainty  and  cold  blank  hopeless 
ness  of  the  present  agnosticism  of  the  world.  We 
are  ready  for  an  apostle,  but  the  message  does  not 
come  to  us  from  men  who  are  on  fire.  Sermons 
are  perfunctory,  ministrations  are  cold.  Church 
men  fritter  away  their  days  in  a  disorder  of  little 
trifles,  and  give  little  thought  to  study,  without 
which  a  priest  cannot  be  effective.  I  am  not  a 
humble  man  myself;  humility  seems  to  me  an  im 
possible  quality;  but  I  believe  that  in  virtue  of 
his  office  the  priest  professes  to  be  humble.  Now 
I  have  not  found  this  virtue  as  a  rule  in  the  priests 
of  the  Catholic  Church.  Humility  makes  envy  im 
possible;  and  is  not  envy  the  besetting  sin  of 
churchmen! 

"My  occupation  thus  far  in  life  has  made  me 
mingle  much  with  men ;  and  out  of  that  experience 
I  have  conceived  for  men  a  sort  of  pitying  cyni 
cism.  This  cynicism  includes  myself.  I  feel  deep 
in  my  soul  that  a  mighty  transformation  must  be 
effected  in  me  before  I  be  worthy  to  have  a  place 
in  the  inheritance  of  Christ.  I  have  perforce 
dealt  with  a  world  of  little,  selfish,  sensual,  unf  eel- 


138  A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

ing  beings.  I  am  not  conscious  of  an  open  injus 
tice  done  by  me;  but  saving  injustice,  I  adopted 
the  code  of  the  world,  with  its  conventional  de 
ceits  and  unfeeling  selfishness.  I  despised  myself 
even  while  I  did  it.  And  as  I  looked  upon  the 
ministers  of  your  Church,  seeking  some  help 
amid  the  universal  gloom,  I  found  that  they 
emerged  but  little  above  the  dead  level  of  medioc 
rity  and  meanness.  They  are  in  the  main  'good 
fellows,'  pleasant  companions;  but  the  soul  lost 
in  the  gloom  of  the  night  of  unbelief  needs  a  voice 
like  the  voice  that  cried  in  the  wilderness  of  old 
to  men  to  make  straight  the  paths  of  the  Lord. 

"O,  that  there  might  arise  in  our  day  an  Isaiah, 
a  Jeremiah,  a  John  the  Baptist!  These  men 
spoke  with  fire,  because  they  believed  with  fire. 
Their  lives  preached  more  powerfully  than  their 
words.  When  they  told  men  to  choose  God  in 
stead  of  worldly  goods  and  pleasures  there  was 
back  of  their  words  the  personality  of  men  who 
lived  their  message.  I  could  go  to  John  the 
Baptist,  and  throw  myself  in  the  desert  dust,  and 
say  to  him:  'I  am  lost;  I  seek  the  way  home. 
Thou  knowest  the  way,  for  God  is  with  thee.  Lead 
me  as  a  little  child ;  take  my  hand  in  thine. ' ' 

A  considerable  period  of  silence  ensued,  then 
Miriam  spoke: 

"Senor  Wilding,  it  seems  to  me  that  there  is 
much  truth  in  what  you  say;  but  I  find  in  your 
statement  no  argument  against  the  Catholic 


A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  139 

Church.  In  that  which  touches  the  orders  of 
women,  I  wish  that  the  constitutions  of  all  the 
orders  of  women  made  them  the  spiritual  wards 
of  the  bishops.  I  find  in  my  study  of  church  his 
tory  that  there  have  been  few  bad  bishops.  Even 
men  who  have  ambitioned  the  mitre,  and  who  have 
employed  base  methods  to  obtain  it,  have  generally 
ruled  well.  There  would  be  no  danger  therefore 
in  making  the  religious  orders  of  women  depend 
ent  on  the  bishops  in  everything.  The  religious 
should  possess  nothing,  even  as  a  corporate  body. 
A  diocesan  fund  might  be  established  for  all  re 
ligious  orders  of  women  needed  in  the  diocese. 
The  administration  of  this  might  be  placed  in  the 
hands  of  a  diocesan  board,  and  the  proper  means 
given  to  those  engaged  in  all  pious  works,  whether 
educational  or  merciful.  This  would  eliminate 
that  evil,  too  often  found  in  orders  of  women, 
ambition  to  make  the  order  powerful  and  rich. 
Pew  nuns  sin  by  personal  attachment  to  money. 
They  project  their  whole  being  into  the  order. 
But  nuns  may  err,  and  I  fear  often  do  err,  in  an 
excessive  desire  to  advance  the  financial  status  of 
their  orders;  and  too  often  the  administration  of 
a  superior  is  judged  purely  from  a  financial  stand 
point.  We  women  never  cease  to  be  children; 
and  we  have  children's  faults.  We  were  made  to 
be  ruled  by  men ;  and,  even  in  religion,  nuns  would 
advance  far  more  successfully  in  perfection  if 
they  be  under  obedience  to  a  wise  and  good  man. 


140  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

If  I  ever  come  into  possession  of  my  rightful  es 
tate,  I  shall  found  in  your  glorious  country  a  fund 
for  the  maintenance  of  a  religious  order  of  women, 
who  shall  possess  nothing,  even  as  a  corporation, 
but  who  shall  be  spiritual  wards  of  the  bishop. ' ' 

"I  believe,"  said  Inez,  "that  it  is  rash  for  us 
to  presume  to  treat  a  theme  of  so  great  im 
portance  which  belongs  to  them  to  whom  God  has 
given  the  office  of  teaching  in  the  church.  Go  with 
us,  Senor,  to  the  good  chaplain  of  the  convent.  He 
is  a  learned  and  holy  man,  and  I  know  that  after 
a  conference  with  him  you  will  see  your  way." 

"The  words  would  have  more  weight  if  they 
were  spoken  by  your  angelic  lips,"  replied  Wild 
ing  with  deep  feeling. 

Inez  blushed  deeply,  and  yet  the  admiration 
pleased  her.  What  woman  desires  not  to  be  ad 
mired  by  a  man  of  noble  character? 

"The  time  is  not  apt  for  jesting,  Senor;  but  if 
you  desire  it  I  shall  be  happy  to  go  with  you  and 
say  amen  to  all  the  chaplain  shall  say,  and  that 
will  virtually  make  his  words  my  words.  > ' 

"0,  Senorita,"  said  Wilding,  "have  you  never 
doubted  in  matters  of  religion  f  One  so  good 
must  be  in  God's  favor,  and  He  would  not  let  you 
drift  into  a  pernicious  error. ' ' 

"I  must  protest,  Senor  Wilding,  that  you  in 
your  impulsive  generosity  grossly  exaggerate  my 
merits.  I  have  done  little  good  in  this  great 
world,  and  I  feel  now  that  at  this  moment  I  should 


A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  141 

be  serving  my  country  if  I  could  only  find  a  way. 
But  touching  your  question,  I  have  never  had  the 
shadow  of  a  doubt  in  my  religion,  and  I  would  give 
my  poor  little  life  gladly  for  anything  the  Church 
believes  and  teaches.  My  faith  is  a  delight.  I 
am  glad  always  when  I  realize  that  I  am  a  child 
of  the  Church. " 

"0,  I  wish  that  there  were  some  vicarious  sys 
tem  by  which  your  faith  could  suffice  for  you  and 
for  me.  But,  soft;  would  you  make  me  a  par 
taker  of  your  gift,  if  such  were  possible  ?" 

"Senor  Wilding, "  answered  Inez,  "the  longer 
we  talk,  the  more  absurd  you  become.  Let  us  go 
at  once  to  the  chaplain. ' ' 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Don  Andrea  was  a  man  of  broad,  tender  sym 
pathy,  deepened  by  the  discipline  of  sorrow.  In 
his  younger  days  he  had  felt  the  spur  of  ambition, 
and  had  dared  to  take  an  unpopular  stand  in  cer 
tain  religious  questions.  His  frank,  impetuous 
honesty  led  him  to  utter  things  which  were  dis 
respectful  of  authority;  and,  although  he  apolo 
gized,  his  apology  was  not  accepted.  He  soon 
experienced  how  bitter  it  is  for  a  priest  to  be  a 
persona  non  grata  to  his  bishop.  In  his  folly  he 
believed  that  his  talents  should  entitle  him  to  ad 
vancement;  and  instead  he  was  relegated  to  a 
poor,  remote  post  where  the  hard  conditions  com 
pelled  him  to  become  a  stranger  to  his  books  which 
he  loved. 

He  rebelled  in  thought,  and  in  the  bitterness  of 
his  soul  he  began  to  revolve  in  his  mind  the  wildest 
projects. 

It  was  Holy  Week ;  and  as  he  walked  on  in  deep, 
painful  musings,  he  came  to  the  church  of  his  boy 
hood.  He  entered  and  mechanically  knelt.  He 
tried  to  pray,  but  the  rebellious  spirit  within  him 
repelled  prayer.  The  priests  began  to  chant  the 
Passion  of  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  It  never 
seemed  so  sad  to  him  before.  It  seemed  to  him 


A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  143 

that  he  was  associated  with  the  enemies  of  Christ ; 
that  he  was  actually  inflicting  the  injuries  on  the 
Saviour,  and  that  the  Saviour  stood  before  him 
showing  bleeding,  ragged  wounds  in  His  hands, 
and  saying:  "With  these  was  I  wounded  in  the 
house  of  them  that  loved  Me. ' ' 

And  then  the  chanters  came  to  that  awful  scene 
in  Gethsemane,  where  the  Saviour,  crushed  under 
the  weight  of  the  world's  iniquity,  cries  out: 
*  *  Father,  if  Thou  be  willing,  remove  this  cup  from 
Me ;  nevertheless  not  My  will,  but  Thine  be  done. ' ' 
—Luke  XXII.  42. 

And  there  came  into  his  mind  those  sublime 
words  of  St.  Paul:  "He  humbled  Himself,  be 
coming  obedient  unto  death,  yea,  the  death  of  the 
cross. "— Philipp.  II.  8. 

The  voice  of  accusing  conscience  made  itself 
heard  within  him :  ' '  How  sadly  thy  disobedience 
contrasts  with  His  obedience.  He  was  in  the  form 
of  God,  equal  to  His  Father ;  and  He  obeyed  even 
to  death.  Thou  art  a  mere  atom,  whom  God 
deigned  to  call  forth  out  of  nothing;  and  thou  re- 
bellest  against  thy  sworn  obedience.  Jesus  did 
no  sin,  nor  was  evil  found  in  Him ;  and  thou,  with 
thy  many  sins,  art  ambitious  for  place  and 
honor. ' ' 

The  service  ended,  he  went  forth  in  search  of 
his  confessor. 

The  confessor  was  at  the  hospital,  and  he  went 
there  in  search  of  him. 


144  A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO 

The  confessor  was  kneeling  beside  a  dying 
child,  and  the  child  was  blind,  deaf,  and  mute.  The 
little  sufferer  clutched  a  crucifix  held  before  her 
by  the  pious  priest.  Suddenly  she  turned  her 
head  on  the  pillow  toward  her  weeping  mother 
and  in  the  sign  language  said:  "Mother,  I  am 
glad  that  I  was  born  deaf,  and  dumb,  and  blind; 
for  now  the  first  voice  that  I  shall  ever  hear  will 
be  the  voice  of  Jesus,  and  his  face  will  be  the 
first  object  I  shall  see." 

The  young  priest  reverently  asked  the  mother 
what  the  child  had  said,  and  received  the  message 
from  the  mother's  lips. 

The  little  face  on  the  pillow  never  turned  back. 
The  flush  of  burning  fever  gave  place  to  the  pallor 
of  death,  and  the  little  heart  ceased  to  beat  for 
ever. 

It  was  a  powerful  object  lesson  to  the  disap 
pointed  young  priest.  What  had  this  child  re 
ceived  from  the  Lord?  She  was  deprived  of  the 
two  most  valuable  senses,  and  of  speech.  She 
had  lived  all  her  life  in  absolute  darkness;  no 
voice  could  come  to  her  or  go  out  from  her  to 
break  the  loneliness  of  that  perpetual  night.  And 
she  thanked  God  for  the  cross  he  had  laid  upon 
her,  and  made  of  it  a  means  of  loving  the  Re 
deemer  with  a  greater  love. 

What  had  he  received?  Everything — talents, 
integrity  of  every  sense,  vigor  of  body ;  3-nd  above 


A   DAUGHTEB    OF    MEXICO  145 

all,  his  vocation.  And  here  he  had  been  grumbling 
and  rebelling  at  the  first  trial. 

There  was  joy  in  Heaven  that  day  as  the  young- 
priest  knelt  in  confession.  His  shame  and  sorrow 
were  so  great  that  the  great  hearted  old  confessor 
must  needs  comfort  and  encourage  him,  that  the 
proper  glad  character  of  repentance  might  have 
its  rightful  place.  ' '  Tell  me,  Father, ' '  he  pleaded, 
"why  did  not  God  cast  me  off?  I  was  so  worth 
less,  so  wicked."  The  old  confessor  drew  forth 
from  his  breviary  a  little  card.  It  was  hand 
painted,  the  work  of  some  pious  nun.  "Preserve 
this,"  he  said,  giving  it  to  his  penitent,  "it  bears 
the  answer  to  your  question."  The  young  priest 
read:  "I  have  loved  thee  with  an  everlasting 
love." 

It  was  a  merciful  Providence  that  led  Harold 
Wilding  to  this  sympathetic  priest. 

Miriam  and  Inez  accompanied  him,  and  after 
the  greetings,  immediately  introduced  the  subject. 

Don  Andrea  was  kind,  but  very  serious.  He 
spoke  slowly  and  with  precision.  "Senor  Wild 
ing,  you  are  seeking  the  pearl  of  great  price,  a 
kingdom,  an  eternal  kingdom,  whose  value  tran 
scends  the  power  of  thought.  To  obtain  this 
kingdom  you  must  do  two  things:  you  must  be 
lieve  and  do.  In  the  logical  order  faith  is  the  first 
principle  and  foundation  of  all. 

"  'And  this  is  His  commandment  that  we  should 
believe  in  the  name  of  His  Son  Jesus  Christ,  and 


146  A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO 

love  one  another,  even  as  He  gave  us  command 
ment.  And  he  that  keepth  His  commandments 
abideth  in  Him,  and  He  in  him.'  " — I.  John  III. 
23-24. 

Don  Andrea  took  up  the  New  Testament  and 
opened  the  book.  '  '  Senor  Wilding,  may  I  ask  you 
to  read  this  inspired  text!" 
Wilding  eagerly  took  the  book  and  read : 
"Now  faith  is  the  assurance  of  things  hoped 
for,  the  proving  of  things  not  seen.  For  therein 
the  elders  had  witness  borne  to  them.  By  faith 
we  understand  that  the  worlds  have  been  framed 
by  the  word  of  God,  so  that  what  is  seen  hath  not 
been  made  out  of  things  which  do  appear.  By 
faith  Abel  offered  unto  God  a  more  excellent  sac 
rifice  than  Cain,  through  which  he  had  witness 
borne  to  him  that  he  was  righteous,  God  bearing 
witness  in  respect  of  his  gifts :  and  through  it  he 
being  dead  yet  speaketh.  By  faith  Enoch  was 
translated  that  he  should  not  see  death;  and  he 
was  not  found,  because  God  translated  him:  for 
before  his  translation  he  hath  had  witness  borne 
to  him  that  he  had  been  well-pleasing  unto  God: 
and  without  faith  it  is  impossible  to  be  well- 
pleasing  unto  him :  for  he  that  cometh  to  God  must 
believe  that  he  is,  and  that  he  is  a  rewarder  of 
them  that  seek  after  him.  By  faith  Noah,  being- 
warned  of  God  concerning  things  not  seen  as  yet, 
moved  with  godly  fear,  prepared  an  ark  to  the 
saving  of  his  house ;  through  which  he  condemned 


A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO  147 

the  world,  and  became  heir  of  the  righteousness 
which  is  according  to  faith.  By  faith  Abraham, 
when  he  was  called,  obeyed  to  go  out  unto  a  place 
which  he  was  to  receive  for  an  inheritance ;  and  he 
went  out,  not  knowing  whither  he  went.  By  faith 
he  became  a  sojourner  in  the  land  of  promise,  as 
in  a  land  not  his  own,  dwelling  in  tents,  with  Isaac 
and  Jacob,  the  heirs  with  him  of  the  same  prom 
ise:  for  he  looked  for  the  city  which  hath  the 
foundations,  whose  builder  and  maker  is  God.  By 
faith  even  Sarah  herself  received  power  to  con 
ceive  seed  when  she  was  past  age,  since  she 
counted  him  faithful  who  had  promised:  where 
fore  also  there  sprang  of  one,  and  him  as  good  as 
dead,  so  many  as  the  stars  of  heaven  in  multitude, 
and  as  the  sand,  which  is  by  the  sea  shore,  innu 
merable. 

1 1  These  all  died  in  faith,  not  having  received  the 
promises,  but  having  seen  them  and  greeted  them 
from  afar,  and  having  confessed  that  they  were 
strangers  and  pilgrims  on  the  earth.  For  they 
that  say  such  things  make  it  manifest  that  they 
are  seeking  after  a  country  of  their  own.  And  if 
indeed  they  had  been  mindful  of  that  country 
from  which  they  went  out,  they  would  have  had 
opportunity  to  return.  But  now  they  desire  a 
better  country,  that  is,  a  heavenly :  wherefore  God 
is  not  ashamed  of  them,  to  be  called  their  God :  for 
he  hath  prepared  for  them  a  city. 

"By  faith  Abraham,  being  tried,  offered  up 


148  A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

Isaac:  yea,  he  that  had  gladly  received  the  prom 
ises  was  offering  up  his  only  begotten  son;  even  he 
to  whom  it  was  said,  In  Isaac  shall  thy  seed  be 
called:  accounting  that  God  is  able  to  raise  up, 
even  from  the  dead ;  from  whence  he  did  also  in  a 
parable  receive  him  back.  By  faith  Isaac  blessed 
Jacob  and  Esau,  even  concerning  things  to  come. 
By  faith  Jacob,  when  he  was  a  dying,  blessed  each 
of  the  sons  of  Joseph;  and  worshipped,  leaning 
upon  the  top  of  his  staff.  By  faith  Joseph,  when 
his  end  was  nigh,  made  mention  of  the  departure 
of  the  children  of  Israel ;  and  gave  commandment 
concerning  his  bones.  By  faith  Moses,  when  he 
was  born,  was  hid  three  months  by  his  parents, 
because  they  saw  he  was  a  goodly  child ;  and  they 
were  not  afraid  of  the  king's  commandment.  By 
faith  Moses,  when  he  was  grown  up,  refused  to 
be  called  the  son  of  Pharaoh *s  daughter ;  choosing 
rather  to  be  evil  entreated  with  the  people  of  God, 
than  to  enjoy  the  pleasures  of  sin  for  a  season; 
accounting  the  reproach  of  Christ  greater  riches 
than  the  treasures  of  Egypt :  for  he  looked  unto 
the  recompense  of  reward.  By  faith  he  forsook 
Egypt,  not  fearing  the  wrath  of  the  king:  for  he 
endured,  as  seeing  him  who  is  invisible.  By  faith 
he  kept  the  passover,  and  the  sprinkling  of  the 
blood,  that  the  destroyer  of  the  first  born  should 
not  touch  them.  By  faith  they  passed  through 
the  Red  sea  as  by  dry  land :  which  the  Egyptians 
assaying  to  do  were  swallowed  up.  By  faith  the 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  149 

walls  of  Jericho  fell  down,  after  they  had  been 
compassed  about  for  seven  days.  By  faith  Rahab 
the  harlot  perished  not  with  them  that  were  dis 
obedient,  having*  received  the  spies  with  peace. 
And  what  shall  I  more  say?  for  the  time  will  fail 
me  if  I  tell  of  Gideon,  Barak,  Samson,  Jephthah ; 
of  David  and  Samuel  and  the  prophets:  who 
through  faith  subdued  kingdoms,  wrought  right 
eousness,  obtained  promises,  stopped  the  mouths 
of  lions,  quenched  the  power  of  fire,  escaped  the 
edge  of  the  sword,  from  weakness  were  made 
strong,  waxed  mighty  in  war,  turned  to  flight 
armies  of  aliens.  Women  received  their  dead  by 
a  resurrection:  and  others  were  tortured,  not  ac 
cepting  their  deliverance ;  that  they  might  obtain 
a  better  resurrection:  and  others  had  trial  of 
mockings  and  scourgings,  yea,  moreover  of  bonds 
and  imprisonment:  they  were  stoned,  they  were 
sawn  asunder,  they  were  tempted,  they  were  slain 
with  the  sword :  they  went  about  in  sheepskins,  in 
goatskins ;  being  destitute,  afflicted,  evil  entreated 
(of  whom  the  world  was  not  worthy),  wandering 
in  deserts  and  mountains  and  caves,  and  the  holes 
of  the  earth.  And  these  all,  having  had  witness 
borne  to  them  through  their  faith,  received  not 
the  promise,  God  having  provided  some  better 
thing  concerning  us,  that  apart  from  us  they 
should  not  be  made  perfect. 

"Therefore  let  us   also,   seeing  we   are  com 
passed  about  with  so  great  a  cloud  of  witnesses, 


150  A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO 

lay  aside  every  weight,  and  tlie  sin  which  doth  so 
easily  beset  us,  and  let  us  run  with  patience  the 
race  that  is  set  before  us,  looking  unto  Jesus  the 
author  and  perfecter  of  our  faith,  who  for  the  joy 
that  was  set  before  him  endured  the  cross,  de 
spising  shame,  and  hath  sat  down  at  the  right 
hand  of  the  throne  of  God.  For  consider  him 
that  hath  endured  such  gainsaying  of  sinners 
against  themselves,  that  ye  wax  not  weary,  faint 
ing  in  your  souls.  Ye  have  not  yet  resisted  unto 
blood,  striving  against  sin :  and  ye  have  forgotten 
the  exhortation,  which  reasoneth  with  you  as  with 
sons, 

My  son,  regard  not  lightly  the  chastening  of  the 
Lord, 

Nor  faint  when  thou  art  reproved  of  him; 

For  whom  the  Lord  loveth  he  chasteneth, 

And  scourgeth  every  son  whom  he  receiveth. 

"It  is  for  chastening  that  ye  endure;  God 
dealeth  with  you  as  with  sons;  for  what  son  is 
there  whom  his  father  chasteneth  not?  But  if  ye 
are  without  chastening,  whereof  all  have  been 
made  partakers,  then  are  ye  bastards,  and  not 
sons.  Furthermore,  we  had  the  fathers  of  our 
flesh  to  chasten  us,  and  we  gave  them  reverence: 
shall  we  not  much  rather  be  in  subjection  unto  the 
Father  of  spirits,  and  live?  For  they  verily  for 
a  few  days  chastened  us  as  seemed  good  to  them ; 
but  he  for  our  profit,  that  we  may  be  partakers 
of  his  holiness.  All  chastening  seemeth  for  the 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  151 

present  to  be  not  joyous,  but  grievous :  yet  after 
ward  it  yieldeth  peaceable  fruit  unto  them  that 
have  been  exercised  thereby,  even  the  fruit  of 
righteousness.  Wherefore  lift  up  the  hands  that 
hang  down,  and  the  palsied  knees;  and  make 
straight  paths  for  your  feet,  that  that  which  is 
lame  be  not  turned  out  of  the  way,  but  rather  be 
healed. "— Heb.  XI.  1-40;  XII.  1-13. 

Wilding  read  slowly.  It  seemed  to  him  that  a 
mighty  spirit  was  speaking  to  him  words  that  no 
man  could  deny.  All  the  reasonings  of  worldly 
men  seemed  to  him  vile  and  despicable. 

After  finishing  the  long  passage,  he  sat  for 
some  moments  plunged  in  mighty  thought.  A 
new  world  was  opening  before  him.  There  was 
pain  in  the  transformation.  The  new  life  de 
manded  so  much  renunciation.  He  felt  a  feeling 
of  great  loneliness  which  oppressed  him.  Then 
into  the  gloom  came  the  thought  of  Inez.  The 
thought  of  her  at  once  comforted  him,  but  there 
followed  a  dreadful  thought:  would  God  accept 
the  offering  of  a  soul  which  made  the  created  love 
of  woman  a  sort  of  mediator  between  God  and 
itself? 

The  priest  did  not  break  in  on  the  meditation; 
the  soul  of  the  man  was  struggling  with  that  part 
of  its  destiny  where  it  must  deal  directly  with  God. 
Silence  is  proper  for  that  awful  approach  to  God. 

Slowly,  after  a  long  pause,  Wilding  raised  his 
head.  "  Father, "  he  said,  "  would  God  accept  the 


152  A   DAUGHTEB    OF    MEXICO 

offering  of  a  soul  which  is  so  held  by  the  hon 
orable  love  of  a  creature  that  it  feels  that  it  could 
not  be  faithful  to  God  unless  it  possess  that 
creature  1" 

Don  Andrea  pondered  the  question  for  some 
moments  and  then  replied: 

"If  the  soul's  disposition  be  absolutely  such 
that  it  prefer  any  creature  to  God,  then  God  can 
not  accept  its  homage;  for,  in  very  fact,  it  serves 
an  idol:  an  idol  has  supplanted  God  in  its  heart. 
The  more  detached  we  are  from  creatures  the 
more  perfect  is  our  offering.  Therefore  spiritual 
perfection  in  its  highest  degree  demands  detach 
ment  from  every  created  thing,  even  detachment 
from  our  mortal  life.  But  God  does  not  reject 
the  soul  which  does  not  aspire  to  the  highest  de 
gree  of  spiritual  perfection.  He  invites  men  to 
the  highest,  but  condescends  to  accept,  for  a  cor 
responding  degree  of  glory  in  Heaven,  those  who 
retain  a  certain  hold  on  creatures,  providing  they 
do  not  transgress  thereby  His  holy  precepts.  And 
therefore  to  come  closer  to  the  thought  of  your 
mind,  God  would  not  reject  a  man  who  felt  his 
own  weakness,  and  wishing  to  come  to  God,  felt 
the  need  of  the  help  of  a  companion  whom  God 
had  enriched  with  natural  and  spiritual  gifts.  In 
this  case  the  created  love  is  not  preferred  before 
the  divine  love;  but  sensible  things  move  us 
readily.  We  cry  freely  at  the  death  of  a  kinsman 
or  friend;  we  cannot  find  a  tear  to  shed  for  our 


A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  153 

sins.  And  yet  we  would  not  commit  a  grievous 
sin  to  save  the  life  of  that  beloved  one.  Neither 
would  you  say  to  God :  *  If  I  must  choose  between 
the  creature  which  I  love  and  you,  I  choose  the 
creature  and  reject  you.'  You  may  be  further 
comforted  by  the  truth  that  as  long  as  the  love  of 
the  creature  remains  honorable,  the  soul  will 
never  be  compelled  to  make  such  a  choice.  It  is 
therefore  an  impossible  hypothesis. 

1 '  Few  realize  how  absolutely  dependent  on  God 
the  soul  is  in  the  matter  of  faith.  The  act  of  faith 
is  a  thing  naturally  impossible.  'No  man  can 
come  to  me  unless  the  Father  draw  him, '  saith  the 
Lord.  If  you  accept  the  Catholic  faith  you  must 
believe  that  a  general  council  of  the  Church,  ap 
proved  by  the  Pope,  is  infallible  in  matters  of 
doctrine  and  faith.  Now  the  Vatican  Council, 
III.  3,  decrees  thus :  '  Faith  is  a  supernatural 
virtue  by  which  we  with  the  inspiration  and 
assistance  of  God's  grace  believe  those  things  to 
be  true  which  He  has  revealed. ' 

' '  And  again  in  the  same  decree :  '  Although  the 
assent  of  faith  is  in  no  sense  blind,  yet  no  one  can 
assent  to  the  Gospel  teaching  in  the  way  necessary 
for  salvation  without  the  illumination  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  who  bestows  on  all  a  sweetness  in  believing 
and  consenting  to  the  truth. ' 

"Wherefore,  if  you  believe  that  yoiir  reason 
alone,  or  that  Senorita  Inez  here,  or  that  I  can 
furnish  you  faith,  you  err  greatly.  Faith  is  a 


154  A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO 

gift  of  God  '  coming  down  from  the  Father  of 
Light.' 

"  Therefore,  the  first  thing  is  to  dispose  your 
soul  so  that  God  may  implant  in  your  soul  divine 
faith.  The  operations  of  God  are  mysterious ;  we 
know  not  the  law  of  the  distribution  of  His  grace ; 
but  we  know  with  absolute  certitude  from  revela 
tion  that  God  never  fails  a  man  who  does  his  best. 
But  in  order  to  dispose  your  soul  for  God's  action 
you  must  put  away  everything  that  might  stand 
between  God  and  you.  Temporal  interests,  social 
position,  ties  of  blood,  pride, — everything  must  be 
swept  away,  and  the  soul  must  stand  before  God  as 
though  God  and  it  were  the  only  two  beings  in  the 
universe. 

"In  this  matter  a  man  may  be  helped  by  an 
illustration  from  the  life  of  Samuel,  the  prophet. 
When  the  voice  of  God  came  to  him  as  a  little  boy, 
he  knew  not  who  it  was  that  called  him  in  the 
vision  of  the  night.  He  consulted  Heli,  the  high 
priest,  and  at  Heli's  advice,  when  the  voice  came 
again,  he  cried:  *  Speak,  Lord,  for  Thy  servant 
heareth.'— I.  Sam.  III.  10. 

"Samuel  knew  not  what  the  Lord  would  com 
mand.  He  offered  himself  without  reserve. 

"Every  man  should  have  a  religion,  a  definite, 
practical  religion.  The  innate  instinct  of  hu 
manity  moves  men  to  recognize  the  Divinity,  and 
all  races  of  men  have  adored  a  God.  Some  of 
them  have  erred  in  determining  the  nature  and 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  155 

attributes  of  the  Supreme  Being,  but  the  universal 
belief  of  humanity  in  the  existence  of  a  Supreme 
Being  is  a  criterion  of  truth. 

"Now  religion  is  not  a  thing  of  man's  invention. 
Man  is  sent  into  this  world  with  the  image  of  God 
stamped  on  his  soul;  and  there  results  therefrom 
a  hunger  and  thirst  after  the  living  God.  Never 
did  human  heart  find  perfect  peace  until  it  found 
God. 

"Some  have  considered  religion  as  the  synthesis 
of  man's  attempts  to  discover  the  nature  of  God 
and  the  destiny  of  man.  Matthew  Arnold  con 
sidered  religion  as  the  noblest  and  most  important 
of  those  efforts  by  which  humanity  has  striven  to 
perfect  itself. 

"This  seems  to  invert  the  order.  A  beneficent 
Creator  has  not  sent  His  creature  into  this  world 
to  grope  in  the  dark  and  catch  at  uncertainties, 
but  has  sent  from  Heaven  a  message  which  makes 
known  to  man  his  relations  to  his  Creator.  Re 
ligion  therefore  is  the  acceptance  of  that  message. 

"In  the  genesis  and  maintenance  of  religion 
there  are  two  agencies,  one  external,  the  other  in 
ternal.  The  external  agency  is  the  presentation 
of  the  divine  truth  by  created  instruments  and 
the  ministration  of  outward  rites  which  in  them 
selves  operate  divine  effects.  The  internal  agency 
is  the  inward  working  of  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God 
in  our  souls,  without  which  all  created  power  is  of 
no  effect. 


156  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

"Now  that  inward  working  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
is  not  a  contingent  effect,  which  may  or  may  not 
take  place;  it  is  certain  to  have  its  effect  in  every 
soul  which  does  not  exclude  it  by  a  voluntary  act. 
It  uses  external  media  only  as  an  ordinary  ad 
junct,  but  is  not  dependent  on  them,  since  it  may 
have  its  true  efficacy  in  the  savage  far  removed 
from  Christian  civilization. 

"But  faith  is  a  quality  of  the  soul  which  is 
demanded  by  God  as  a  condition  of  eternal  life; 
so  the  revelation  of  the  message  has  not  been 
made  so  fully  by  God  that  it  would  exclude  faith. 
As  St.  Paul  says,  'We  see  now  in  a  mirror,  in  a 
riddle;  we  know  only  in  part;'  the  full  vision 
awaiteth  us  in  the  fulness  of  life  for  which  this 
larval  state  is  only  a  preparation.  This  dimness 
of  our  present  vision,  directly  ordained  by  God  to 
develop  the  soul's  proper  trust  in  God,  is  taken  by 
the  unbeliever  as  an  evidence  of  the  failure  of  re 
ligion.  The  unbeliever  is  like  a  shortsighted  man 
who  declares  objects  not  to  exist  which  are  be 
yond  the  range  of  his  vision. 

' '  It  results  from  the  very  nature  of  religion  that 
it  must  be  one.  There  is  one  God,  one  Christ,  one 
Holy  Spirit,  one  message.  As  St.  Paul  expresses 
it :  '  One  faith,  one  Lord  and  one  baptism. ' 

"It  would  be  as  reasonable  to  believe  that  there 
be  two  multiplication  tables  as  to  believe  that 
there  be  two  essentially  different  forms  of  belief. 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  157 

The  oneness  of  God  compels  the  oneness  of  the 
true  religion. 

'  *  Hence  all  forms  of  belief  must  be  tried  by  that 
criterion ;  they  must  have  a  common  point  of  unity 
in  essentials,  or  they  are  thereby  proven  spurious. 
The  Indians  in  the  centuries  that  rolled  on  before 
Columbus  came  to  these  shores  may  have  had  the 
same  religion  as  St.  Paul,  provided  the  Indian  fol 
lowed  the  law  of  nature  and  the  dictates  of  his 
conscience;  for  religion  is  the  acceptance  of  the 
message  of  God  as  revealed  to  us,  and  the  doing 
of  the  will  of  God  as  made  known  to  us. 

"Of  course,  it  is  required  that  a  man  use  the 
means  in  his  power  to  know  God. 

"Here  many  fail.  Here  many  business  men 
fail.  The  untutored  Indian  was  excusable  for 
his  lack  of  knowledge ;  no  clearer  presentation  of 
the  truth  had  been  made  to  him.  But  in  this  busy 
age  truth  cries  out  in  the  market  places,  and  men 
will  not  heed;  because  they  are  absorbed  in  the 
preoccupation  of  worldly  things. 

"The  spiritual  character  of  man's  destiny  has 
become  what  the  manna  became  to  the  Hebrews 
of  the  Exodus,  it  has  lost  its  savor  to  those  who 
long  for  the  flesh-pots  of  Egypt. 

"A  very  popular  error  is  to  believe  that  if  a 
man  live  justly  and  do  some  deeds  of  philanthropy, 
God  will  do  the  rest.  Nowhere  in  the  world  does 
this  error  more  prevail  than  in  your  country.  It 


158  A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO 

is  a  sort  of  'new  worldliness, '  which  sets  up  a  re 
ligion  that  is  not  spiritual. 

"If  the  New  Testament  be  true,  then  this  un- 
spiritual  way  of  life  is  false. 

"We  read  in  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles,  Tenth 
Chapter,  that  in  the  days  of  the  Apostles  a  man 
lived  at  Caesarea,  Cornelius  by  name,  a  Roman 
centurion.  The  Holy  Scriptures  declare  of  him 
that  he  was  *a  devout  man,  and  one  that  feared 
God  with  all  his  house,  and  gave  much  alms  to  the 
people,  and  prayed  to  God  alway.' 

"A  man  might  ask:  What  more  can  God  ask 
of  a  man  in  the  name  of  religion! 

"And  yet  God  does  ask  more,  and  employs  a 
series  of  miracles  to  bring  Cornelius  into  the  or 
ganized  church.  God  by  a  miraculous  vision  ad 
vises  St.  Peter  to  go  and  baptize  Cornelius.  God 
also  by  a  direct  message  directs  Cornelius  to  sum 
mon  St.  Peter,  and  St.  Peter  baptized  Cornelius 
and  all  his  house. 

"Consider  yourself  alone  in  the  universe  with 
God;  say  with  Samuel,  'Speak,  Lord,  for  Thy 
servant  heareth;'  pray  with  perseverance  and 
God  will  lead  you  to  truth  and  life. 

"This  absolute  docility  of  the  heart  must  be 
your  preamble  if  you  would  receive  the  action  of 
God  in  your  soul.  Many  fail  at  this  point;  they 
do  not  offer  a  total  surrender  of  the  soul  to  God, 
It  involves  the  dismantling  of  that  mighty 


A   DAUGHTER    OF   MEXICO  159 

fortress,  pride,  which  self  and  the  devil  have 
built  up  in  human  souls. 

"  Again,  since  faith  is  a  gift  of  God,  and  God 
wishes  us  to  ask  for  His  gifts,  '  Ask  and  you  shall 
receive/  you  must  pray.  If  you  presently  know 
no  form  of  prayer,  use  your  own  words.  If  you 
ask  me  how  often  one  should  pray,  revealed  truth 
compels  me  to  answer:  Always.  It  is  not  pos 
sible  always  to  compose  one 's  self  to  a  set  form  of 
prayer,  but  the  soul  should  ever  be  lifted  up  to 
God,  and  this  is  prayer.  In  the  morning  and 
again  at  evening  some  time  should  be  exclusively 
devoted  to  prayer,  and  then  it  is  wise  to  employ 
that  model  of  all  prayer  which  Christ  Himself 
taught  us,  and  other  prayers  which  have  the  ap 
proval  of  God  through  the  Church. 

"And  now,  my  children,  I  must  tell  you  that  I 
feel  a  certain  premonition  that  I  shall  be  with  you 
but  a  short  time.  I  am  ready  to  seal  my  faith 
with  my  blood,  if  God's  grace  be  given  me.  But 
wre  must  act  quickly  in  this  matter.  Tell  me  what 
is  the  greatest  difficulty  you  have  in  accepting  the 
Church/' 

"He  has  told  them  all  to  us,  Father,"  inter 
posed  Inez.  "Permit  me  to  relieve  Senor  Wild 
ing's  embarrassment  by  relating  them  as  he  de 
livered  them  to  us." 

Carefully  and  with  great  earnestness  Inez  re 
lated  the  discourse  of  Harold  Wilding.  When 


160  A   DAUGHTEB   OF    MEXICO 

she  had  finished,  the  priest  asked  him:  "Have 
you  anything  more  to  add  to  this  discourse  I " 

Wilding  answered : 

"My  mind  is  in  great  unrest  and  confusion. 
There  is  a  mass  of  difficulties  and  doubts  lying 
confused  therein;  but  perhaps  it  would  be  easier 
to  bring  forth  my  objections  against  the  different 
tenets  as  you  expound  them  in  the  course  of  your 
instruction,  if  you  believe  that  I  am  worth  the 
while.  But,  Father,  I  shall  be  honest  with  you; 
and  therefore  I  must  tell  you  that  I  am  not  a  con 
verted  man.  Were  it  not  for  the  fair  Senorita 
Inez,  I  believe  that  I  should  not  have  now  engaged 
in  this  search  for  a  religion.  And  I  cannot  allow 
you  to  undertake  the  arduous  task  of  presenting 
the  Catholic  doctrine  to  me,  in  the  belief  that  I 
have  accepted  it.  You  have  only  gained  one 
point :  I  believe  that  you  are  an  honest  man,  and 
I  shall  be  willing  to  listen  to  you  with  an  honest 
purpose.  I  shall  try  to  pray  as  you  advise;  but 
it  will  be  an  awkward  process  at  first.  Yet  I  am 
drawn  to  your  Church  by  the  very  fact  that  you 
make  such  a  necessity  of  private  prayer.  I  am 
disgusted  with  the  histrionic  prayers  of  the  other 
denominations.  Perhaps  I  am  drawing  nearer 
to  God,  but  the  way  will  be  hard,  and  the  dangers 
many. 

"Among  the  fearful  obstacles  which  stand  in 
my  way  is  the  thought  that  the  Catholic  religion 
will  separate  me  from  all  tender  ties.  I  must 


A   DAUGHTEE   OF    MEXICO  161 

abandon  the  hope  of  the  salvation  of  my  parents, 
who  sleep  in  the  grave ;  of  my  brothers  and  sisters 
and  all  kindred,  whom  it  is  innate  in  us  to  love; 
and  of  many  other  good  men,  whom  I  have  known. 
The  exclusive  character  of  your  religion  demands 
a  fearful  renunciation. " 

"Even  were  the  case  as  you  conceive  it,"  an 
swered  the  priest,  "it  would  not  be  an  argument 
against  the  Catholic  Church.  It  would  only  prove 
what  a  mighty  evil  heresy  is.  Many  of  the  mar 
tyrs  of  the  early  Christian  Church  were  delivered 
to  the  executioners  by  their  parents  or  other 
kindred.  The  religion  of  Christ  demands  virtual 
ly  an  absolute  renunciation : 

"  'If  any  man  cometh  unto  me,  and  hateth  not 
his  own  father  and  mother,  and  wife  and  children, 
and  brethren,  and  sisters,  yea,  and  his  own  life 
also,  he  cannot  be  My  disciple.  Whosoever  doth 
not  bear  his  own  cross,  and  come  after  Me,  cannot 
be  My  disciple. '— Luke  XIV.  26-27. 

*  '  The  word  hate  here  means  to  love  less.  There 
fore  the  condition  of  discipleship  demands  that  a 
man  be  prepared  to  give  up  everything,  his  own 
mortal  life  included,  for  the  service  of  God;  and 
that  he  actually  give  it  up,  if  the  occasion  re 
quire  it. 

"In  your  case,  you  must  be  so  minded  that  if 
God  should  require  of  you  the  absolute  renuncia 
tion,  you  would  make  it." 


162  A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

"  O,  why  could  not  the  way  to  Heaven  have  been 
made  easier?"  murmured  Wilding1. 

"He  who  asks  this  renunciation  has  gone  before 
us  in  the  way.  '  Being  in  the  form  of  God,  and 
equal  to  his  Father,  he  emptied  Himself,  taking 
the  form  of  a  slave.'  'Who  in  the  days  of  His 
flesh,  having  offered  up  prayers  and  supplication 
with  strong  crying  and  tears  unto  Him  that  was 
able  to  save  Him  from  death,  and  having  been 
heard  for  His  godly  fear,  though  He  was  a  Son, 
yet  learned  obedience  by  the  things  which  He  suf 
fered  ;  and  having  been  made  perfect,  He  became 
unto  all  them  that  obey  Him,  the  author  of  eternal 
salvation,  named  of  God  a  high  priest  after  the 
order  of  Melchizedek. ' — Heb.  V.  7—10. 

"Our  leader  is  not  'a  high  priest  that  cannot 
be  touched  with  the  feeling  of  our  infirmities ;  but 
one  that  hath  been  in  all  points  tempted  like  as 
we  are,  yet  without  sin. ' — Heb.  IV.  15. 

"The  reason  that  we  find  renunciation  so  hard 
is  that  our  faith  is  so  weak.  Our  faith  is  not 
strong  enough  to  make  of  the  glory  that  awaits 
us  a  reality.  The  Master  Himself  becomes  a 
mere  cold,  far-away  fact  of  history,  instead  of  an 
abiding  friend,  in  whose  presence  we  live.  If  we 
could  believe  as  St.  Paul  believed,  renunciation 
would  become  a  delight ;  because  it  would  unite  us 
more  closely  with  Jesus  Christ,  who  renounced  all 
for  us." 

"  'He  was  despised,  and  rejected  of  men;  a  man 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  163 

of  sorrows,  and  acquainted  with  grief:  and  as 
one  from  whom  men  hide  their  face  he  was  de 
spised,  and  we  esteemed  him  not. 

"  '  Surely  he  hath  borne  our  griefs,  and  car 
ried  our  sorrows :  yet  we  did  esteem  him  stricken, 
smitten  of  God,  and  afflicted.  But  he  was  wounded 
for  our  transgressions,  he  was  bruised  for  our 
iniquities:  the  chastisement  of  our  peace  was 
upon  him ;  and  with  his  stripes  we  are  healed.  All 
we  like  sheep  have  gone  astray;  we  have  turned 
every  one  to  his  own  way ;  and  the  Lord  hath  laid 
on  him  the  iniquity  of  us  all. 

"  'He  was  oppressed,  yet  he  humbled  himself 
and  opened  not  his  mouth;  as  a  lamb  that  is  led 
to  the  slaughter,  and  as  a  sheep  that  before  her 
shearers  is  dumb ;  yea,  he  opened  not  his  mouth. ' — 
Isaiah  LIIL  3-7. 

"Now  touching  your  love  of  your  kindred,  I 
fear  that  you  have  not  the  right  idea  of  the  Catho 
lic  doctrine.  The  Catholic  Church  is  exclusive, 
because  truth  is  exclusive.  Truth  is  one.  How 
ever  broad  you  may  make  truth,  it  must  have  an 
essential  unity. 

"All  the  angles  of  a  triangle  are  equal  to  two 
right  angles,  and  he  who  says  that  they  be  more 
or  less  is  in  error. 

"But  you  may  say  that  no  man  knows  God  or 
the  things  that  are  beyond  man's  reason;  and  that 
God  has  left  us  to  our  own  efforts  to  strive  after 
Him,  accepting  all  our  efforts  which  proceed  from 


164  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

an  honest  purpose;  so  that  religion  becomes  'a 
stream  of  tendency  that  makes  for  righteousness, ' 
a  sort  of  complex  of  all  the  efforts  which  humanity 
has  made  to  perfect  itself. 

' '  In  this  view  there  would  be  no  fixed  doctrine : 
the  only  gauge  of  a  man's  righteousness  would  be 
the  honesty  of  purpose  by  which  a  man  follows 
after  what  he  apprehends  to  be  good. 

"Outside  the  Catholic  Church,  I  believe  that 
this  view  is  growing,  and  gradually  absorbing  the 
sects ;  so  that  their  churches  are  no  longer  centers 
of  doctrinal  teaching,  but  social  centers. 

1  *  In  the  first  place,  this  view  is  repugnant  to  the 
wisdom  and  mercy  of  God.  We  take  it  for 
granted  here  that  you  believe  in  an  infinite  Being, 
Creator  of  all  things.  All  nature  proclaims  this 
truth.  'For  the  invisible  things  of  Him  since 
the  creation  of  the  world  are  clearly  seen,  being 
perceived  through  the  things  that  are  made,  His 
everlasting  power  and  Divinity ;  so  that  they  may 
be  without  excuse;  because  that,  knowing  God, 
they  glorified  Him  not  as  God,  neither  gave 
thanks;  but  became  vain  in  their  reasonings,  and 
their  senseless  heart  was  darkened.  Professing 
themselves  to  be  wise,  they  became  fools.' — Rom. 
I.  20-22. 

"The  world  is  becoming  repaganized,  and  the 
state  described  by  St.  Paul  is  the  state  of  many 
today,  with  a  slight  change  in  the  thing  that  is 
substituted  for  God. 


A    DAUGHTEB    OF    MEXICO  165 

"Now  if  we  accept  the  one  true  God  as  the  first 
cause  of  all  things,  it  is  incompatible  with  His 
nature  to  cut  man  off  with  no  guide  of  belief  or 
conduct :  to  allow  him  to  drift  into  all  the  horrible 
rites  of  human  sacrifice,  and  the  unclean  worship 
of  Min,  Astarte,  Priapus,  and  the  Phallic  rites,  in 
his  blind  groping  after  a  Supreme  Being.  Could 
a  father  he  pardoned  who  would  exclude  himself 
and  all  other  means  of  education  from  his  child; 
and  would  send  the  child  out  into  a  desert  with 
other  children,  equally  unprovided,  to  grow  up 
with  no  guide  but  their  natural  inclinations  and 
inventions'?  And,  accepting  the  existence  of  an 
active  principle  of  evil,  to  complete  the  simile,  we 
must  make  that  father  let  loose  into  that  desert 
the  ablest  and  wickedest  men  to  destroy  all  that 
is  good  in  the  boy. 

"We  know  from  history  that  great  intellectual 
endowments  prevented  not  the  ancient  philoso 
phers  from  falling  into  the  foulest  crimes.  Cicero 
declares  thus  of  them :  '  Who  among  the  philoso 
phers  is  found  to  be  of  such  integrity  of  mind  and 
morals  as  reason  demands?  Who  of  them  con 
siders  his  system  of  philosophy  not  the  ostenta 
tion  of  his  learning,  but  a  law  of  his  life!  Who 
obeys  the  precepts  of  conduct  which  he  enunciates  ? 
We  observe  some  of  them  so  vain  and  boastful 
that  it  were  better  for  them  that  they  had  never 
learned;  others  are  avaricious  of  money;  others 
eager  for  glory;  many  are  slaves  of  carnal  lust; 


166  A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

so  that  there  is  an  amazing  contrast  between  their 
teachings  and  their  lives ;  this  seems  to  me  most 
shameful.' — Quest.  Tusc.  Lib.  I.  4. 

"Such  men  could  not  teach  the  world.  Most 
men  must  be  taught  by  others;  for  their  circum 
stances  render  them  incapable  of  drawing  from 
nature  its  message  of  God.  Hence  the  axiom: 
'Deus  hominibus  consulere  vult  per  homines.' 
Compare  the  ridiculous  theories  and  doubts  of 
the  pagan  philosophers  with  the  sublime  message 
of  the  Hebrew  prophets,  and  say  who  are  the  more 
worthy  to  convey  a  message  of  truth  to  man. 

"The  knowledge  of  God  perceivable  by  the 
reason  from  nature  is  not  that  definite,  complete 
and  easy  cognition  which  is  necessary  for  the 
actual  state  of  humanity.  It  is  rather  a  vague, 
rudimentary,  mysterious  reproof  of  the  man  who 
seeks  not  the  Author  of  the  harmonious  universe. 
It  is  sufficient  to  start  the  man  in  good  faith  to 
seek  further  and  use  the  multifarious  means  which 
God  employs  to  teach  man.  It  will  never  permit 
a  man  to  become  an  atheist  or  a  worshipper  of 
false  gods ;  but  for  its  complement  it  looks  to  the 
other  modes  of  teaching  which  God  has  given  us. 

"Moreover,  nature's  witness  to  the  one  true 
God  is  a  corroboration  to  those  who  use  the  other 
means  given  us  by  God ;  and  to  them  nature  speaks 
far  more  clearly  than  to  those  who  receive  not  the 
revelation  of  God  to  man. 

"Now  these  proofs  evince  the  necessity  of  a 


A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  167 

revelation;  and  there  is  a  revelation  of  such  a 
character  and  with  such  a  history  that  nothing  can 
reasonably  explain  its  existence  save  the  admis 
sion  that  it  came  from  God.  Its  intrinsic  sub 
limity,  its  surpassing  wisdom,  the  beauty  of  its 
moral  code,  and  its  well  authenticated  miracles 
attest  that  it  is  the  message  of  the  infinite  God. 

"Therefore  our  innate  sense  of  the  fitness  of 
things  responds  to  Paul 's  declaration :  '  God  hav 
ing  of  old  time  spoken  unto  the  fathers  in  the 
prophets  by  divers  portions  and  in  divers  man 
ners,  hath  at  the  end  of  these  days  spoken  unto  us 
in  His  Son,  whom  He  appointed  heir  of  all  things, 
through  whom  also  He  made  the  worlds.' — Heb. 
I.  1-2. 

' i  A  belief  in  God  and  revelation  compels  a  belief 
in  Jesus  Christ,  and  a  belief  in  Him  in  His  true 
character  as  the  coequal  Son  of  God,  true  God 
and  true  man.  Jesus  Christ  has  impressed  His 
personality  on  history  so  indelibly  that  no  reason 
able  man  denies  His  existence,  and  His  beneficent 
character.  There  is,  however,  a  recrudescence 
in  our  day  of  the  old  Arian  heresy  which  denied 
the  Divinity  of  Jesus  Christ. 

"That  movement  of  the  sixteenth  century, 
called  the  'Reformation,'  was  really  a  revolt 
against  the  supernatural.  It  was  the  act  of  the 
'natural  man  who  receiveth  not  the  things  of  the 
Spirit  of  God.'  Men  being  scandalized  by  the 
improper  lives  of  those  set  apart  to  minister  holy 


168  A   DAUGHTEB   OF    MEXICO 

things,  turned  away  from  the  supernatural  order. 
The  breach  then  made  has  grown  wider  with  time. 
The  Eeal  Presence  was  too  supernatural;  it  was 
dropped  out  of  belief.  Mass  was  too  supernat 
ural;  it  also  was  dropped.  And  thus  one  belief 
after  another  lapsed  from  worldly  men,  until  now 
few  outside  the  Catholic  Church  believe  in  the 
Divinity  of  Jesus  Christ. 

"Inasmuch  as  they  have  substituted  a  sort  of 
pleasant  humanitarianism  for  doctrinal  religion, 
they  try  to  appease  man's  innate  longing  after 
religion  by  things  that  contemplate  the  better 
ment  of  humanity's  worldly  estate.  The  spirit 
of  the  great  heresy  of  the  sixteenth  century  is  to 
wash  the  outside  of  the  cup,  and  give  no  thought 
to  the  corruption  in  the  cup.  The  humanitarian- 
ism  which  goes  down  with  St.  Vincent  of  Paul  to 
the  galley  slave,  and  teaches  him  the  way  of  re 
pentance  and  reconciliation  to  God  is  not  the 
vogue  of  the  world  to-day:  naturalism  has  sup 
planted  supernaturalism. 

"This  tendency  is  world- wide.  In  England  a 
man  named  Bowman  left  the  bulk  of  his  large 
fortune  to  a  corporation  called  The  Secular  So 
ciety,  'to  promote  in  such  ways  as  may  from 
time  to  time  be  determined  the  principle  that  hu 
man  conduct  should  be  based  upon  natural  knowl 
edge  and  not  upon  supernatural  belief,  and  that 
human  welfare  in  this  world  is  the  proper  end  of 
all  thought  and  action.' 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  169 

"This  is  clearly  an  attempt  to  subvert  Chris 
tianity.  The  case  was  carried  to  the  Court  of 
Appeals.  The  Lord  Justices  conceded  that  for 
merly  the  common  law  had  condemned  all  at 
tempts  to  subvert  Christianity.  But  the  common 
law  of  former  times  had  changed  to  suit  the 
times,  and  today,  the  Justices  declared  that  the 
foundations  of  Christianity  might  be  subverted, 
so  long  as  decent  language  is  employed  for  the 
purpose. 

'  *  Strict,  uncompromising  orthodoxy  is  not  popu 
lar  among  a  large  part  of  those  who  are  divinely 
commissioned  to  deliver  the  message  of  God  to 
men.  The  man  who  stands  for  the  exclusive  right 
of  the  Catholic  Church  to  teach  and  govern  men 
will  be  set  down  as  a  bigot,  as  a  man  of  narrow 
sympathies.  On  the  contrary,  the  man  who  ex 
tends  the  glad  hand  to  Marcion,  Cerinthus,  and 
their  ilk  will  be  proclaimed  a  man  of  large  sym 
pathies, — one  of  the  best  of  the  race. 

"The  spirit  of  the  world,  which  has  always 
hated  Christ,  has  no  stronger  ally  than  the  secular 
press.  The  press  makes  and  unmakes  men. 
Tacitly  it  makes  its  conditions  to  the  heroes  which 
it  creates.  When  it  finds  among  the  Lord's 
anointed  one  who  adopts  the  humanitarian  fads, 
which  take  the  place  of  religion  in  Protestantism, 
it  makes  a  lion  of  him.  It  watches  his  movements 
and  his  utterances.  The  tendency  of  Protestant 
ism  is  towards  Arianism;  and  the  press  is  glad 


170  A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

when  the  leader  of  God's  people  throws  a  little 
doubt  upon  the  doctrine  of  the  Divinity  of  Christ. 
If  he  believes  in  a  low  degree  of  inspiration  ol' 
the  Holy  Scriptures,  he  is  lauded  as  a  man  who 
has  outgrown  superstition.  He  is  invited  to  join 
clubs  where  the  term  Catholic  is  never  spoken. 
Protestant  reviews,  which  regard  Catholicity  as 
a  hard-lived  superstition,  open  their  pages  to  him. 

"He,  in  turn,  is  very  careful  that  no  Catholic 
doctrine  is  therein  promulgated  in  his  writings. 
He  practically  has  made  a  doctrinal  surrender  for 
social  prestige. 

"The  spirit  of  our  institutions  favors  this 
liberalism,  and  I  fear  that  it  has  a  stronger  foot 
hold  among  the  ministers  of  Christ  than  we  are 
willing  to  admit. 

"On  the  plane  of  citizenship,  on  the  plane  of 
civil  society,  men  meet  as  brothers;  differences  of 
creed  should  not  enter  into  those  relations;  but 
on  the  plane  of  religious  belief  there  is  but  one 
faith,  which  the  infallible  Catholic  Church  believes 
and  teaches. 

"The  man  who  sets  out  to  seek  after  God  must 
recognize  that  the  spirit  of  the  world  is  his  enemy. 
Other  sins  offend  God,  but  still  leave  in  the  soul 
belief  in  God's  place  in  the  universe:  the  spirit 
of  the  world  tends  to  dethrone  God  Himself. 

"Supposing  now  that  you  humble  yourself  to 
recognize  the  need  of  God's  message  and  His 


A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  171 

grace,  this  process  of  reasoning  compels  your 
assent. 

"God  spoke  to  the  world  through  the  prophets 
of  old.  Now  the  New  Testament  evolves  itself 
out  of  the  Old  Testament  by  logical  necessity. 
The  central  figure  of  the  New  Testament  is  Jesus 
Christ.  The  Old  Testament  looks  to  Him  as  its 
complement;  and  the  New  Testament  is  a  record 
of  His  words  and  deeds. 

"If  Jesus  Christ  be  true,  then  the  Catholic 
Church  with  all  its  claims  is  true,  and  is  the  sole 
authorized  teacher  of  humanity  in  faith  and 
morals. 

"Whatever  theory  we  adopt  to  explain  Jesus 
Christ,  without  accepting  the  Catholic  Church, 
leads  to  an  absurdity.  Faith  is  not  perfect  until 
it  leads  a  man  to  rest  with  full  security  in  the 
bosom  of  the  infallible  Church. 

"Touching  the  state  of  those  who  are  outside 
the  Church.  One  of  the  clearest  declarations  on 
that  subject  was  given  us  by  Pius  IX.  Before 
him  the  Lateran  Council  had  decreed  in  the  chap 
ter  '  Firmiter ' :  t  There  is  one  universal  Church 
of  all  the  faithful;  outside  of  which  no  one  is 
saved. ' 

' '  This  decree  is  based  upon  the  words  of  Christ. 
'  Go  ye  into  the  whole  world  and  preach  the  Gospel 
to  the  whole  creation.  He  that  believeth  and  is 
baptized  shall  be  saved;  but  he  that  believeth  not 
shall  be  condemned.' — Mark  XVI.  15-16. 


172  A   DAUGHTEB    OF    MEXICO 

"  'And  I  say  unto  thee  that  thou  art  Peter 
(Greek  "the  Bock"),  and  upon  this  rock  I  will 
build  My  church;  and  the  gates  of  hell  shall  not 
prevail  against  it.  And  I  will  give  unto  thee  the 
keys  of  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven :  and  whatsoever 
thou  shalt  bind  on  earth  shall  be  bound  in  Heaven : 
and  whatsoever  thou  shalt  loose  on  earth  shall  be 
loosed  in  Heaven. '—Matt.  XVI.  18-19. 

"The  nature  of  things  demands  that  this  be  an 
everlasting  commission,  investing  the  indefectible 
Church  with  the  powers  given  Peter,  which  were 
to  admit  to  Heaven  only  those  who  pertain  to  the 
Church,  which  holds  the  keys  of  Heaven. 

' '  At  first,  this  tenet  of  faith  may  seem  cruel,  but 
a  right  understanding  of  it  shows  that  it  is  just 
and  merciful.  Pius  IX.  condemned  the  opinion 
of  Bajus,  which  was  thus  enunciated:  ' Merely 
negative  unbelief  is  a  sin  in  those  to  whom  Christ 
is  not  preached. ' 

"The  Vatican  Council,  approved  by  Pius  IX., 
defined  thus  the  status  of  the  Church:  *  It  is  a 
dogma  of  faith  that  outside  of  the  Church  no  one 
can  be  saved.  But  they  who  are  invincibly  ignor 
ant  of  Christ  and  His  Church  are  not  on  account 
of  this  ignorance  damned;  since  they  are  not  cul 
pable  of  this  ignorance  in  the  eyes  of  the  Lord, 
who  wishes  all  men  to  be  saved  and  to  come  to  a 
knowledge  of  the  truth;  and  to  the  man  who  does 
what  in  him  lies,  the  Lord  does  not  deny  grace, 
that  the  man  may  obtain  justification  and  eternal 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  173 

life :  but  this  eternal  life  no  man  shall  obtain  who, 
through  his  own  fault,  departs  this  life  separated 
from  the  unity  of  faith  and  communion  of  the 
Church.  If  any  one  is  not  in  this  ark,  he  will 
perish  in  the  deluge. ' — Cap.  7. 

"The  words  of  Pius  IX.  are  still  clearer  in  his 
encyclical,  *  Quanto  Conficiamur, '  August  19, 1863 : 
'It  is  known  to  all  that  they  who  are  invincibly 
ignorant  of  our  holy  religion;  if  they  faithfully 
obey  the  commandments  of  the  natural  law  written 
in  the  hearts  of  all  men,  and  if  they  lead  a  just  and 
good  life,  being  always  in  their  hearts  disposed 
to  obey  God,  may  by  the  power  of  God's  illumina 
tion  and  grace  obtain  eternal  life ;  since  God,  who 
scrutinizes  and  knows  the  minds,  affections, 
thoughts  and  tendencies  of  all,  in  His  goodness 
and  mercy  will  not  suffer  any  one  to  be  damned  in 
hell  who  is  not  guilty  of  a  wilful,  mortal  sin.  And 
the  Catholic  doctrine  is  equally  well  known,  that 
outside  the  Church  no  man  can  be  saved. ' 

"You  see,  therefore,  that  it  is  a  question  of 
good  faith.  But  this  good  faith  is  not  to  be  too 
readily  supposed.  It  demands  that  a  man  be 
ready  to  obey  God  whatever  He  commands,  and 
that  a  man  seek  the  truth  with  diligence  and  with 
an  honest,  teachable  mind. 

"Pius  IX.  in  his  golden  allocution,  December  9, 
1854,  speaks  thus :  '  Far  be  it,  venerable  brothers, 
that  we  should  dare  to  set  bounds  to  the  infinite 
mercy  of  God;  far  be  it  that  we  should  wish  to 


174  A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

penetrate  the  secret  counsels  and  judgments  of 
God,  which  are  an  infinite  abyss,  impervious  to 
human  thought.  *  We  must  hold  it  to  be 

of  faith  that  outside  the  Apostolic  Roman  Church 
no  one  can  be  saved.  *  *  but  it  is  to  be  held 
as  equally  true  that  they  who  are  held  in  invincible 
ignorance  of  the  true  religion  are  not  held  ac 
countable  for  this  ignorance  in  the  judgment  of 
God.  But  who  is  so  arrogant  as  to  dare  fix  the 
limits  of  this  ignorance,  which  is  influenced  by  an 
infinite  variety  of  things  among  different  peoples, 
regions,  and  temperaments?  When,  freed  from 
these  mortal  coils,  we  shall  see  God  as  He  is,  we 
shall  surely  know  how  perfectly  and  beautifully 
divine  mercy  and  divine  justice  are  combined. 
But  while  we  remain  upon  this  earth,  weighed 
down  by  our  mortal  bodies,  which  clog  our  minds, 
let  us  firmly  cling  to  the  Catholic  doctrine,  that 
there  is  one  God,  one  faith,  one  baptism:  as  it  is 
not  given  to  us  to  penetrate  the  mystery  more 
deeply.'  " 

As  the  priest  finished  this  long  quotation,  he 
trembled  with  emotion.  "Behold,"  he  said,  "a 
document  that  is  worthy  of  the  head  of  the  in 
fallible  Church.  How  nobly  it  contrasts  with  the 
babel  of  the  discordant  sects  and  of  the  miserable 
sycophants  who  fawn  on  them  in  order  to  have 
the  favor  of  the  world! 

"It  would  be  a  fatal  mistake  to  make  the  state 
of  a  man  in  good  faith  outside  the  Church  equal 


A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  175 

to  the  state  of  a  faithful  member  of  the  Church. 
In  the  first  place  we  have  no  positive  proof  that 
such  men  actually  exist  among  the  members  of 
the  Christian  sects.  All  the  data  given  to  us  by 
the  infallible  Church  contemplate  merely  a  hypo 
thetical  case,  and  deny  to  man  the  right  to  assign 
any  concrete  example.  Now  if  any  such  man 
exist,  he  suffers  an  immense  loss  in  being  deprived 
of  the  Sacraments  of  the  Church,  and  the  mani 
fold  spiritual  graces  that  come  to  members  of  the 
Church  in  virtue  of  their  vital  union  with  the 
divine  Head  of  the  Church,  Jesus  Christ.  We 
must  suppose  that  Christ,  who  founded  the  Church 
to  save  all  men,  draws  men  to  it  by  His  grace. 
Given  this  action  of  Christ,  it  seems  impossible 
that  a  man  living  in  the  full  light  of  the  Gospel, 
and  having  such  easy  access  to  the  teachings  of 
the  Church,  should  fail  to  find  the  true  faith,  if 
he  have  the  qualities  demanded  as  a  condition 
sine  qua  non  of  good  faith. 

"  Hence,  while  we  accept  the  hypothetical  pos 
sibility  of  salvation  for  those  outside  the  Church, 
it  seems  to  me  that  the  limits  within  which  this 
is  verified  are  very  narrow. 

"The  merciful  view  set  forth  in  the  great 
Pontiff's  declaration  is  far  removed  from  that 
popular  error,  indifferentism,  which  rejects 
dogma,  and  allows  every  man  to  make  his  own 
religion.  The  old  heresies  at  least  made  some 
pretense  to  a  logical  foundation  of  their  systems: 


176  A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO 

the  great  error  of  the  sixteenth  century,  which 
has  more  adherents  than  any  of  the  former 
heresies,  has  no  logic.  It  is  an  appeal  to  the 
worldly  propensities  of  men.  To  the  lame  beggar 
at  the  gate,  called  Beautiful,  Peter  said :  '  Silver 
and  gold  have  I  none,  but  what  I  have,  that  give  I 
to  thee.  In  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Nazareth, 
walk.' — Acts  III.  6.  The  true  religion  of  Christ 
relies  not  on  wealth  to  fulfill  its  mission,  but  on 
spiritual  power. 

"On  the  contrary,  Protestantism  derives  its 
life  from  wealth  and  social  caste.  It  makes  much 
of  its  Y.  M.  C.  A.  with  its  650,000  members  and  its 
millions  of  invested  capital.  It  is  able  to  offer 
great  worldly  advantages  to  the  heathens,  if  they 
will  accept  the  fashion  of  Protestantism.  By  its 
wealth  it  floods  the  world  with  Bibles  and  tracts ; 
it  founds  and  richly  endows  universities,  colleges, 
hospitals,  asylums,  libraries,  and  'shows  great 
signs  and  wonders;  so  as  to  lead  astray,  if  pos 
sible,  even  the  elect. ' 

"Even  some  of  those  who  are  appointed  to  lead 
the  people  in  the  Church  of  Christ  cringe  and 
fawn  and  compromise  on  vital  points  of  doctrine 
in  order  to  be  recognized  by  the  immense  worldly 
power  of  Protestantism.  Protestantism  is  quick 
to  make  heroes  of  these  sycophants.  A  venal 
press  is  always  ready  to  take  them  up  and  eulogize 
them. 

"The  apostle  of  love,  St.  John,  declares:     'If 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  177 

any  one  cometh  unto  you,  and  briiigeth  not  this 
teaching  (the  true  Gospel  of  Christ),  receive  him 
not  into  your  house,  and  give  him  no  greeting :  for 
he  that  giveth  greeting  partaketh  in  his  evil 
works/ — II.  John  10.  St.  Paul  gives  command 
ment  to  Titus:  'A  man  that  is  heretical  after  a 
first  and  second  admonition  avoid;  knowing  that 
such  a  one  is  perverted,  and  sinneth,  being  self- 
condemned. '— Titus  III.  10. 

* i  The  early  Christians  were  filled  with  the  spirit 
of  these  admonitions.  Polycarp,  one  of  the 
noblest  of  the  martyrs,  refused  to  salute  Marcion, 
the  heretic,  declaring  him  to  be  the  first  born  of 
Satan.  Athanasius  would  never  salute  a  Mani- 
chaean  or  Arian,  save  to  admonish  them  of  their 
error. 

"But  in  our  day  the  spirit  of  the  world  has  so 
far  prevailed  that  the  heretics  themselves  are  con 
firmed  in  their  errors  by  the  compromises  of 
Catholics." 

Harold  Wilding  arose  and  extended  his  hand 
to  the  priest.  "Good,  Father,"  he  said  slowly, 
"your  words  have  brought  to  me  but  little  en 
couragement.  Perhaps  it  is  temptation,  but  it 
seems  to  me  that  there  is  no  joy  in  your  conception 
of  a  man's  duty.  Your  super-naturalism  is  to  ine 
unnatural.  I  am  willing  to  acknowledge  that 
logical  reasoning  compels  a  man  to  choose  between 
Eoman  Catholicism  and  agnosticism.  If  we  ac 
cept  the  Scriptures  as  a  definite  message  from  the 


178  A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO 

Infinite  Being,  we  must  accept  the  Catholic 
Church.  But  is  it  not  possible  that  out  of  the 
aspirations  and  the  efforts  of  noble  souls  through 
the  ages  there  should  have  come  into  being  a 
record  of  thoughts,  words  and  deeds,  a  purely 
human  document,  but  bearing  the  deep  impress 
of  the  goodness  of  the  men  who  created  it,  merit 
ing  the  name  divine  by  the  inherent  goodness  of 
its  precepts  and  counsels?  This  would  give  to 
religion  a  sufficient  unity  from  the  fact  that  the 
object  for  which  men  aspire  and  strive  is  always 
the  same,  the  Infinite  Good.  It  would  allow  men 
to  differ  in  the  manner  of  attaining  to  that 
Supreme  End;  but  this  very  liberty  appeals  to 
me — seems  to  me  necessary  to  develop  a  man's 
personality. 

1  'God  surely  wishes  the  service  of  freemen, 
and  not  of  mere  puppets.  This  has  always 
seemed  to  me  the  chief  power  of  Freemasonry: 
they  believe  in  God,  and  allow  one  to  form  his  own 
conception  of  the  way  in  which  he  shall  worship 
that  God/  ' 

Wilding  stopped  abruptly,  as  though  in  fear 
lest  he  had  offended  the  gentle  priest.  But  the 
priest  took  his  hand  calmly,  and  said : 

"If  the  issue  of  religion  depended  on  whether 
your  mind  or  mine  were  the  profounder  and 
keener,  you  should  easily  win.  Your  words  are 
weighty,  terrible;  they  frighten  me,  and  compel 
me  to  throw  myself  in  utter  helplessness  into  the 


A   DAUGHTEB   OF    MEXICO  179 

arms  of  God.  Without  the  help  of  God  you  can 
never  have  faith,  and  I  should  lose  my  own  faith. 
I  have  full  faith  that  God  will  direct  my  poor 
words  to  draw  you  out  of  that  error  which  your 
words  have  expressed.  I  must  recall  to  you  my 
words  spoken  on  this  very  subject  in  the  earlier 
part  of  our  conference.  You  have  not  thought 
of  these  words  before  in  all  your  life,  and  there 
fore  they  seem  strange  and  contrary  to  your  nat 
ural  tendency.  There  is  in  your  words  an  echo 
of  that  old  cry  of  rebellion  by  which  the  angels 
fell.  You  allow  the  parent  to  impress  upon  the 
mind  of  the  child  the  law  of  right  by  definite,  clear 
principles  of  conduct;  and  you  would  say  that 
the  parent  were  derelict  who  should  neglect  such 
provision  for  his  child ;  but  God  is  inhibited  from 
giving  any  message  to  his  most  necessitous  crea 
ture  ;  and  the  creature  is  to  be  left  to  mere  chance 
to  find  the  path  to  the  highest  good. 

"Now  answer  this:  Where  is  there  proof  in 
history  that  man,  unaided  by  God's  revelation, 
has  evolved  and  practised  a  system  of  moral  truth 
which  you  would  be  willing  to  accept?  You  may 
answer  that  the  imperfections  of  the  past  were 
due  to  the  times,  and  to  the  rude  stage  of  progress 
to  which  humanity  had  arrived.  But  this  con 
firms  the  argument  for  revealed  religion ;  for  true 
progress  only  came  with  the  acceptance  of  God's 
message ;  and  where  it  has  not  been  promulgated, 
man  is  still  brutal  and  sensual.  It  is  the  power 


180  A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

of  that  very  revelation  which  you  now  decry, 
which  has  given  to  you  that  culture  and  love  of 
high  and  noble  ideals  which  you  possess.  All 
truth  must  be  exclusive,  for  truth  is  one.  The 
conception  that  you  have  of  the  Supreme  Being- 
is  an  inheritance  which  came  to  you  from  His 
revelation.  All  that  is  good  in  pagan  philosophy 
or  religion  can  be  traced  back  to  God's  message 
to  man:  the  abominable  degradation  of  pagan 
Rome  is  a  proof  of  what  man's  unrestrained  rea 
son  and  passions  may  arrive  at.  To  tell  a  man 
with  authority  what  is  true,  especially  in  the  order 
of  being  to  which  his  reason  cannot  mount,  can  in 
no  way  rob  him  of  the  dignity  of  a  free  man.  The 
assent  to  any  truth  takes  from  the  reason  the 
liberty  of  assenting  to  the  opposite  at  the  same 
time.  The  assent  is  free,  and  the  liberty  of  will 
is  preserved  in  virtue  of  the  freedom  of  the  assent. 
The  penalty  established  in  the  divine  plan  for 
not  assenting  is  only  effective  when  assent  is 
withheld  through  a  wilful  fault.  Even  your 
agnosticism  might  save  you,  if  it  be  the  best  that 
you  can  arrive  at  in  knowing  and  serving  God. 

"We  must  ever  bear  in  mind  that  we  belong  to 
God ;  that  by  right  of  creation  He  has  an  absolute 
dominion  over  us.  It  is  therefore  inconceivable 
that  the  Infinite  Being,  who  created  us  out  of  in 
finite  love,  should  have  cut  us  off  with  no  guidance 
to  grope  in  the  dark  in  a  world,  which  even  the 
clearest  teaching  of  God  has  not  saved  from  be- 


A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  181 

coming  an  abode  of  sin  and  suffering.  To  en 
noble  man  God  allows  him  to  choose  his  service: 
God  places  before  man  life  and  death;  but  to 
those  who  choose  to  accept  His  message  God 
speaks  clear  by  His  deposit  of  revelation  and  by 
His  Church. 

"And  now,  assuring  you  of  a  remembrance  in 
all  my  Masses  and  prayers,  I  shall  bid  you  God 
speed  until  your  own  feelings  prompt  you  to  seek 
my  poor  aid  again.  Think  much  of  this  truth,  that 
if  you  dispose  your  soul  by  honest  effort  for  the 
action  of  God,  nothing  can  keep  you  from  Him,  for 
lie  wishes  all  men  to  come  to  a  knowledge  of  the 
truth  and  thereby  to  life  eternal.  Do  not  measure 
the  infinite  perfection  of  God's  revelation  by  my 
poor  presentation  of  it.  God  often  chooses  the 
weak  things  of  the  world  to  confound  the  mighty. 
In  seeking  religious  truth  prayer  is  worth  more 
than  argument.  Pray,  Serior,  and  we  shall  pray 
much  for  you.  I  cannot  foretell  future  events; 
but  whatever  force  may  be  in  my  presentiments 
is  very  favorable  to  you.  You  may  pass  through 
fire;  but  I  seern  to  feel  that  out  of  the  purifying 
crucible  of  suffering  you  shall  mount  to  the  realm 
of  life  with  God." 

Harold  Wilding  went  forth  from  the  priest's 
presence  so  plunged  in  deep  thought  that  he  was 
but  slightly  conscious  of  his  surroundings.  Even 
the  presence  of  the  fair  girl  by  his  side  was 
scarcely  realized. 


182  A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO 

Inez  was  much  pleased  by  this.  She  was  filled 
with  a  great  hope  that  this  soul,  naturally  so 
noble,  would  follow  the  great  Light,  which  is  the 
Life  of  Men.  Even  though  she  had  respected  him 
in  former  times,  there  was  always  mingled  in  her 
thought  of  him  a  vague  fear.  That  fear  was  now 
vanishing,  and  a  sense  of  perfect  trust  and  de 
lightful  companionship  replaced  it.  The  silence 
in  no  way  marred  this  companionship :  their  souls 
seemed  to  be  thinking  and  hoping  in  unison.  The 
dim  foreboding  of  evil  in  the  priest's  parting- 
words  drew  them  closer  together  by  that  common 
impulse  which  unites  men  in  the  face  of  a  com 
mon  danger. 

As  Wilding  took  his  leave  from  Inez  his  voice 
was  low  and  full  of  deep  emotion ;  sobs  choked  her 
own  utterance. 

That  night  Miriam  and  Inez,  clasped  in  each 
other's  arms,  held  a  long  conference.  They  kept 
no  secrets  from  each  other.  The  final  decision  of 
their  deliberations  was  that  they  should  devote 
their  lives  at  present  to  their  country's  needs  by 
nursing  the  wounded  soldiers  in  the  improvised 
hospitals.  The  great  suffering  which  had  come 
upon  them  had  rendered  them  most  unworldly. 
Even  Inez's  love  of  Harold  Wilding  was  sub 
limed  into  a  spiritual  sentiment. 

On  the  following  morning  they  prepared  them 
selves  for  their  arduous  task  by  receiving  Holy 
Communion. 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  183 

When  Wilding  called,  they  made  known  to  him 
their  heroic  purpose.  He  was  graver  than  usual. 
It  was  plain  that  he  contemplated  days  of  great 
trial  for  all.  As  a  citizen  of  the  United  States 
he  could  have  withdrawn  from  the  danger,  but  he 
felt  no  inclination  to  do  so.  His  love  of  Inez 
dominated  every  other  thought.  His  love  was  a 
pure,  noble  sentiment.  Her  heroic  undertaking- 
raised  her  still  higher  in  his  worshipful  admira 
tion.  He  foresaw  danger  for  her,  but  still  he  was 
glad  that  she  was  so  brave.  He  resolved  to  re 
main  as  near  her  as  possible  and  to  protect  her 
with  his  life. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

We  must  now  return  to  Leon  and  Joseph. 

They  had  waited  some  days  after  their  arrival 

at  Z ,  anxiously  awaiting  the  coming  of  their 

parents  and  Lucy.  When  these  came  not,  fear  in 
vaded  the  souls  of  Leon  and  Joseph,  and  they  re 
solved  to  set  out  for  their  former  home.  They 
avoided  observation  as  much  as  possible,  travel 
ing  much  by  night,  following  the  railroad  over 
which  they  believed  that  they  would  come. 

The  condition  of  the  country  was  frightful. 

On  all  sides  were  misery  and  ruin.  The  arts 
of  peace  were  neglected,  the  populace  were  like 
the  frightened  remnants  of  a  flock  of  sheep  which 
wolves  had  devastated.  Pale,  wan,  almost  naked 
children  were  everywhere.  Gaunt,  ragged,  wild- 
eyed  women  went  about  like  spectres,  thrusting 
out  their  fleshless  hands  to  seize  anything  that 
they  might  find  that  could  be  eaten.  A  sullen, 
dead,  hopeless  spirit  possessed  all.  They  had  lost 
the  taste  of  fear:  their  misery  was  so  great  that 
death  would  have  been  a  glad  release. 

Whenever  Leon  and  Joseph  judged  that  they 
had  nothing  to  fear  they  approached  the  railroad 
and  sought  tidings  of  their  kindred. 

They  traveled  thus  for  two  days,  Leon  was 


A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  185 

mounted  on  Black  Bess;  Joseph  rode  Miriam's 
horse. 

At  nightfall  they  halted  at  a  spring  at  the  edge 
of  a  forest  of  considerable  size.  They  rested 
while  the  horses  grazed  nearby.  They  had  pro 
vided  themselves  with  bread,  cheese,  dried  meat, 
and  dried  fruits,  of  which  they  ate,  and  drank  of 
the  spring.  Few  words  were  spoken. 

As  they  sat  silent  in  the  stillness  of  the  night,  a 
strange  apparition  appeared.  At  a  distance  of 
about  a  hundred  rods  strange  beings  were  moving 
along  by  the  side  of  the  railroad  track.  There 
seemed  to  be  about  eight  of  these  beings ;  and  that 
which  was  especially  wonderful  in  their  appear 
ance  was  the  fact  that  the  heads  of  six  of  the  eight 
seemed  to  be  intermittently  luminous;  while  the 
same  luminous  phenomenon  appeared  on  the 
ankles  of  the  other  two. 

The  light  flashing  from  these  strange  beings 
was  sufficient  to  reveal  that  the  six  with  luminous 
heads  were  Indian  girls;  the  two  with  luminous 
ankles  were  Indian  young  men. 

This  strange  phenomenon  did  not  seem  to  sur 
prise  our  two  travelers.  Both  gazed  intently  at 
the  moving  figures,  and  then  Joseph  suddenly  laid 
his  hand  on  Leon's  shoulder  and  went  rapidly 
toward  the  advancing  forms. 

Leon  followed  him. 

When  the  luminous  forms  saw  the  two  men  ad 
vancing  they  stopped  suddenly  in  great  fear,  and 


186  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

peered  at  the  approaching  men.  Fear  soon  gave 
way  to  gladness :  they  recognized  Leon  and  Joseph 
as  friends. 

The  two  Indian  young  men  and  the  six  maidens 
were  well  known  to  both  Leon  and  Joseph  and 
much  esteemed  by  them.  Every  Indian  girl  had 
four  Elater  fireflies  in  her  hair  under  a  thin  gauze 
veil.  The  young  men  had  bound  an  equal  number 
to  their  ankles. 

The  Elater  firefly  is  a  large  beetle  of  greenish 
black  color  about  an  inch  long.  The  luminous 
secretion  is  contained  in  two  round  transparent 
nodules  about  as  large  as  a  pinhead,  situated  be 
hind  the  eyes.  Four  of  them  will  throw  a  light 
by  which  the  pages  of  a  newspaper  may  be  read. 

All  the  Indians  were  of  the  peon  class,  but  their 
features  and  general  bearing  gave  evidence  that 
they  were  of  the  best  of  their  race. 

Leon  and  Joseph  learned  from  them  the  tragedy 
that  had  obliterated  their  kindred. 

These  Indian  girls  had  been  passengers  on  the 
ill-fated  train,  whose  history  we  have  related. 
They  had  witnessed  the  entire  scene.  When 
Benita  had  alighted  from  the  train,  they  also  had 
left  it,  and  had  fled  in  terror  to  their  homes.  For 
two  days  they  had  not  dared  to  come  out  of  their 
seclusion;  but  on  the  third  day  they  had  formed 
the  little  group  of  comrades  with  two  of  their 
brothers  as  protection,  and  had  gone  in  search  of 
the  body  of  Lucy.  They  had  found  but  little  of 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  187 

the  remains,  and  near  these  the  bones  and  a  few 
fragments  of  the  body  of  the  mother.  The  wild 
beasts  had  eaten  most  of  both  bodies. 

They  reverently  collected  the  scattered  remains 
and  buried  them  in  a  common  grave  with  no  other 
ritual  service  save  the  simple  prayers  of  the  In 
dian  young  men  and  maidens.  But  angels  took 
part  in  that  simple  service,  and  bore  away  those 
souls  thus  washed  in  Christ's  blood  to  the  King 
dom  of  the  living  God. 

After  the  burial  of  Lucy  and  her  mother  the 
band  of  Indians  had  journeyed  farther  up  along 
the  railroad  and  had  found  the  scattered,  gnawed 
bones  of  the  father.  They  had  buried  him  in 
similar  manner  in  the  place  where  he  lay.  Their 
journey  to-night  was  to  plant  two  artistically 
wrought  wooden  crosses  at  the  graves. 

Silently,  with  tears  Leon  and  Joseph  followed 
them,  leading  their  horses. 

They  soon  came  to  the  first  grave.  At  the  sight 
of  the  little  mound  covered  with  the  withered  wild 
flowers,  Joseph  uttered  a  low  moan  and  crouched 
down  upon  the  earth  beside  the  grave. 

All  knelt  in  silence  and  prayed. 

After  an  earnest  prayer  the  Indians  arose  and 
planted  the  cross,  and  placed  some  wild  flowers 
on  the  grave. 

One  of  the  Indian  girls  handed  to  her  brother 
a  small  parcel,  which  had  been  wrapped  with  great 
care. 


188  A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

He  opened  it  and  found  there  a  number  of  re 
ligious  articles  which  had  been  worn  by  Lucy  and 
Benita.  There  were  crosses,  rosaries  and  medals, 
so  that  he  could  give  to  every  one  of  the  company 
a  token  of  remembrance. 

Joseph  had  never  moved  since  his  arrival  at 
the  grave.  His  tears  were  few;  his  lips  were 
tightly  set;  his  eyes  reflected  an  agony  which  hu 
man  nature  could  not  long  endure. 

At  length  Leon  tried  to  speak  to  him;  but  his 
mighty  frame  shook,  and  sobs  choked  his  utter 
ance. 

Slowly,  in  broken  accents,  he  said :  ' '  Lucy  and 
our  mother  Benita  are  in  Heaven;  many  noble 
souls  have  longed  and  prayed  for  the  honor  which 
has  come  to  them.  Let  us  visit  our  father 's  grave, 
and  then  prepare  for  the  tasks  that  the  time  im 
poses  on  us." 

The  boy  was  consoled.  He  uttered  no  word, 
but  kissing  the  earth  of  the  grave,  he  arose  and 
went  with  Leon  and  the  company. 

In  less  than  an  hour  they  found  the  father's 
grave. 

Here  again  it  required  all  the  power  of  their 
faith  to  temper  their  mighty  grief. 

The  memory  of  that  last  interview,  as  before 
related,  came  vividly  into  Leon's  soul.  He  re 
flected  on  the  self-denying  nobility  of  that  good 
man.  How  much  he  owed  him!  and  yet  he  had 


A    DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO  189 

been  unable  to  do  anything  for  him,  or  in  any  way 
protect  him  from  his  unjust  aggressors. 

And  with  these  sad  reflections  came  equally  sad 
thoughts  of  his  distracted,  unhappy  country.  It 
seemed  that  something  must  be  possible  to  remedy 
its  evils;  and  yet  it  was  hard  to  conceive  a  plan 
of  relief. 

It  is  only  faith  that  saves  us  from  "the  sorrow 
of  them  who  have  no  hope. ' ' 

There  kneeling  in  the  silent  night  by  the  grave 
of  the  man  beloved  by  all,  a  great  peace  came  into 
the  souls  of  all.  They  felt  that  higher  patriotism 
which  is  based  on  that  inspired  truth  that  "our 
citizenship  is  in  Heaven."  They  knew  that  the 
man  whom  they  mourned  had  believed  with  a 
simple  faith;  had  served  God  with  all  his  soul; 
and  had  died  for  a  principle  which,  before  God,  is 
above  mortal  life.  Peace  came  with  that  realiza 
tion,  and  their  state  of  soul  could  be  likened  to 
that  of  a  group  of  martyrs  who,  in  the  days  of 
the  Roman  persecution,  had  laid  the  remains  of 
a  blessed  martyr  in  the  Catacombs. 

Few  were  the  words  that  were  spoken  as  Leon 
and  Joseph  took  leave  of  their  good  friends.  All 
the  veneer  and  deceit  of  our  complex,  superficial 
social  code  were  absent  in  that  group.  In  their 
place  there  was  a  deep,  simple  sincerity:  those 
souls  knew  each  other,  and  loved  each  other  as  the 
blessed  love  each  other  in  Heaven. 

As  there  was  no  motive  to  continue  the  journey 


190  A   DATJGHTEE   OF    MEXICO 

farther,  Leon  and  Joseph  turned  back  to  Z 

to  report  the  sad  tidings  to  Miriam  and  Inez. 

Joseph  had  always  greatly  loved  Leon.  But 
now  the  loss  of  all  his  kindred  drew  him  still 
closer  to  his  noble  foster  brother.  On  the  return 
journey,  whenever  they  lay  down  to  rest,  Joseph's 
head  lay  close  to  Leon's  manly  shoulder  and  his 
hand  clutched  Leon's  hand  as  a  frightened  child 
clings  to  its  mother. 

They  reached  Z ,  and  found  the  whole  city 

in  a  state  of  wildest  terror.  The  Constitutional 
ists  were  marching  rapidly  to  attack  it,  and  the 
reports  of  their  deeds  on  the  way  were  fearful. 

At  Villa  de  Guadalupe  the  Constitutionalists 
had  entered  the  parish  school,  which  had  been  im 
provised  as  a  hospital  by  Valeriano  Medina,  the 
pious  parish  priest.  They  trampled  some  of  the 
wounded  to  death  with  their  horses'  hoofs  and 
shot  others  of  them.  The  priest  escaped. 

They  shot  the  parish  priest  of  Cabra,  Rev. 
Father  Alba. 

The  beautiful  church  of  St.  Francis  of  Mon 
terey  was  destroyed,  and  many  of  the  daughters 
of  the  most  respected  families  were  violated. 

At  Coahuila  they  shot  the  pastor  of  St.  Peter's 
Church. 

At  Zamora  they  shot  a  priest,  and  left  his  body 
to  be  devoured  by  wild  beasts. 

The  citizens  of  Z knew  that  the  town  could 


A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO  191 

offer  but  a  feeble  resistance,  and  despair  was  in 
every  soul. 

The  chaplain  showed  no  signs  of  fear.  He  had 
made  the  great  renunciation  even  unto  death,  and 
he  calmly  and  resolutely  prepared  to  follow  his 
Master  in  the  way  of  the  cross. 

He  summoned  Harold  Wilding  at  once,  and  de 
clared  that  whatever  was  to  be  done  in  the  way 
of  instruction  by  him  must  be  done  at  once. 

Harold  was  anxious  for  another  conference: 
the  good  seed  was  taking  root  in  his  soul,  and  he 
felt  a  strange  attraction  to  the  Catholic  Church. 

At  his  request  Miriam  and  Inez  accompanied 
him. 

"Senor  Wilding,"  began  the  priest,  "you  must 
know  that  membership  in  the  Catholic  Church 
compels  you  to  sever  your  connection  with  Free 
masonry.  In  order  that  you  may  know  the  justice 
of  the  Catholic  Church's  attitude,  I  shall  succinct 
ly  review  the  principles  of  Freemasonry  which 
conflict  with  the  Church.  I  believe  that  many  men 
are  members  of  this  secret  society  without  know 
ing  the  real  nature  of  the  society.  I  have  made  a 
careful  study  of  the  documentary  history  of  the 
society,  and  shall  relate  only  authentic  facts. 

'  '  The  name  Freemason  is  traced  by  some  as  far 
back  as  A.  D.  1155.  Other  scholars  believe  that 
it  occurs  first  in  1375. 

"Most  probably  it  meant  a  skilled  artisan, 
emancipated  from  the  restrictions  and  control  of 


192  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

local  guilds  in  order  that  he  might  be  able  to  travel 
and  render  service  wherever  any  great  building 
was  being  built. 

"The  Freemasons  formed  a  universal  craft  for 
themselves,  with  a  system  of  secret  signs  and  pass 
words  by  which  a  craftsman  could  be  recognized. 
Evidence  of  competent  skill  was  a  requisite  for 
admission  to  the  craft.  They  rose  and  fell  with 
the  rise  and  fall  of  Gothic  architecture. 

"In  English  law  the  term  Freemason  is  first 
mentioned  in  1495. 

"Since  the  year  1750  the  term  Freemason  has 
acquired  an  entirely  different  signification.  Ac 
cording  to  the  official  rituals  of  the  craft  in  the  va 
rious  nations  Freemasonry  means  'a  peculiar 
system  of  morality,  veiled  in  allegory  and  illus 
trated  by  symbols.'  The  Allgemeines  Handbuch 
der  Freimaurerei,  Leipzic,  defines  Freemasonry 
to  be  'the  activity  of  closely  united  men  who,  em 
ploying  symbolical  forms  borrowed  principally 
from  the  mason's  trade  and  from  architecture, 
work  for  the  welfare  of  mankind,  striving  morally 
to  ennoble  themselves  and  others  and  thereby  to 
bring  about  a  universal  league  of  mankind,  which 
they  aspire  to  exhibit  now  on  a  small  scale. ' 

' '  Much  that  is  fabulous  has  been  written  and  be 
lieved  of  Freemasonry.  One  of  its  foremost 
writers,  Mackey,  declares:  'The  historical  por 
tion  of  old  records  as  written  by  Anderson,  Pres 
ton,  Smith,  Calcott  and  other  writers  of  that  gen- 


A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO  193 

eration  was  little  more  than  a  collection  of  fables 
so  absurd  as  to  excite  the  smile  of  every  reader. ' 

"This  appears  in  the  Freemason's  Chronicle, 
published  in  London  in  the  year  1890:  'All  that 
series  of  fables  which  projects  the  origin  of  Free 
masonry  back  into  the  remote  age  of  the  Tower  of 
Babylon,  Solomon's  Temple,  the  Pyramids,  etc., 
must  be  discarded  as  unworthy  of  any  considera 
tion.  9  Mackey  rightly  declares  '  that  it  is  the  op 
probrium  of  Freemasonry  that  its  history  has 
never  yet  been  written  in  a  spirit  of  critical  truth ; 
that  credulity  has  been  the  foundation  on  which  all 
Masonic  historical  research  has  been  built.  *  *  * 
that  the  missing  links  of  a  chain  of  evidence  have 
been  frequently  supplied  by  gratuitous  invention, 
and  that  statements  of  vast  importance  have  been 
carelessly  sustained  by  the  testimony  of  docu 
ments  whose  authenticity  has  not  been  proved. ' 

"Again  he  says  (Chr.,  1890,  II.  145) :  'The  his 
torical  portion  of  old  records,  as  written  by  An 
derson,  Preston,  Smith,  Calcott  and  other  writers 
of  that  generation,  was  little  more  than  a  collec 
tion  of  fables,  so  absurd  as  to  excite  the  smile  of 
every  reader.' 

"Most  of  the  foolish  theories  of  the  antiquity 
of  Freemasonry  are  drawn  from  Anderson 's  '  The 
Constitutions  of  Free  Masons,'  published  in  1723 
and  again  in  1738. 

' '  Led  on  by  that  universal  desire  to  ennoble  the 
origin  of  institutions  to  which  men  are  attached, 


194  A   DAUGHTER   OP   MEXICO 

Freemasons  have  made  Almighty  God  the  first 
founder  of  Freemasonry.  They  have  given  to  it 
the  building  of  Noah's  ark,  the  Tower  of  Babel, 
the  Pyramids  and  Solomon's  Temple.  Some  of 
them  are  fond  of  associating  it  with  the  foul  rites 
of  the  Egyptian  polytheism,  and  of  the  Mithra, 
and  the  Druids. 

1 1  That  these  silly  beliefs  enter  into  the  substance 
of  Freemasonry  is  proven  from  the  fact  that  in 
the  ' charge'  given  the  candidate  after  initiation, 
it  is  declared:  *  Ancient  it  is,  having  subsisted 
from  time  immemorial.  In  every  age  monarchs 
have  been  promoters  of  the  art,  have  not  thought 
it  derogatory  to  their  dignity  to  exchange  the 
sceptre  for  the  trowel,  have  participated  in  our 
mysteries,  and  joined  in  our  assemblies. ' — English 
Ritual,  1908. 

"In  virtue  of  these  absurd  traditions,  Hiram, 
King  of  Tyre,  who  aided  Solomon  in  building  the 
Temple,  is  one  of  the  greatest  patriarchs  of  the 
Freemasonry. 

"The  ancient  guild  of  Masons,  which  was  in 
union  with  the  Catholic  Church,  goes  back  many 
centuries  in  the  Christian  era,  but  speculative 
Freemasonry  of  the  constitution  now  adopted  by 
the  society  originated  in  the  year  A.  D.  1717,  and 
was  completed  and  the  'Book  of  Constitutions' 
was  adopted  in  1722. 

"The  new  Freemasonry  adopted  certain  fea 
tures  of  the  old  Christian  guild,  but  its  spirit  was 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  195 

essentially  opposed  to  the  old  guild.  In  the  old 
guild  of  practical  Masonry  the  initiated  was 
charged  to  be  'true  to  God  and  Holy  Church,  and 
to  use  no  error  or  heresy '  (Gould,  Concise  His 
tory). 

"On  the  contrary  the  prime  characteristic  of 
speculative  Freemasonry  is  its  revolt  against  dog 
matic  form  of  belief. 

"In  the  revised  text  of  the  'Book  of  Constitu 
tions/  as  first  published,  Article  I.  contains  the 
Freemason's  rule  concerning  God  and  Religion: 
'A  Mason  is  obliged  by  his  tenure  to  obey  the 
moral  law;  and  if  he  rightly  understands  the  art, 
he  will  never  be  a  stupid  Atheist  nor  an  irreligious 
Libertine.  But  though  in  ancient  times  Masons 
were  charged  in  every  country  to  be  of  the  re 
ligion  of  that  country  or  nation,  whatever  it  was, 
yet  'tis  now  thought  more  expedient  only  to  oblige 
them  to  that  religion  in  which  all  men  agree,  leav 
ing  their  particular  opinions  to  themselves;  that 
is,  to  be  good  men  and  true  or  men  of  honor  and 
honesty,  by  whatever  denominations  or  persua 
sions  they  may  be  distinguished;  whereby  Mas 
onry  becomes  the  Centre  of  Union  and  the  means 
of  conciliating  true  friendship  among  persons  that 
must  have  remained  at  a  perpetual  distance. ' 

"Article  VI. — 'In  order  to  preserve  peace  and 
harmony  no  private  piques  or  quarrels  must  be 
brought  within  the  door  of  the  Lodge ;  far  less  any 
quarrels  about  religion  or  nations  or  state  policy, 


196  A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO 

we  being  only,  as  Masons,  of  the  Catholic  religion 
above  mentioned,  we  are  also  of  all  nations,  ton 
gues,  kindreds,  and  languages,  and  are  resolved 
against  all  politics,  as  what  never  yet  conduced 
to  the  welfare  of  the  Lodge  nor  ever  will.  This 
charge  has  been  always  strictly  enjoined  and  ob 
served;  but  especially  ever  since  the  Reformation 
in  Britain,  or  the  dissent  and  secession  of  these 
nations  from  the  Communion  of  Rome.' 

"Slight  changes  in  these  articles  were  made  in 
the  text  of  1738.  In  the  later  text  the  first  article 
is  modified  as  follows :  l  Concerning  God  and  Re 
ligion. — A  Mason  is  obliged  by  his  tenure  to  ob 
serve  the  moral  law  as  a  true  Noahida  (son  of 
Noah),  and  if  he  rightly  understands  the  craft,  he 
will  never  be  a  stupid  atheist,  or  an  irreligious 
libertine,  nor  act  against  conscience.  In  ancient 
times  the  Christian  Masons  were  charged  to  com 
ply  with  the  Christian  usages  of  each  country 
where  they  traveled  or  worked;  but  Masonry  be 
ing  found  in  all  nations,  even  of  diverse  religions, 
they  are  now  generally  charged  to  adhere  to  that 
religion,  in  which  all  men  agree,  leaving  each 
brother  to  his  own  particular  opinion,  that  is,  to 
be  good  men  and  true,  men  of  honor  and  honesty, 
by  whatever  names,  religions  or  persuasions  they 
may  be  distinguished;  for  they  all  agree  in  the 
three  great  articles  of  Noah,  enough  to  preserve 
the  cement  of  the  Lodge.  Thus  Masonry  is  the 
center  of  their  union  and  the  happy  means  of  con- 


A   DAUGHTEE   OF    MEXICO  197 

ciliating  true  friendship  among  persons  who 
otherwise  must  have  remained  at  a  perpetual  dis 
tance.  ' 

"Article  VI. — 'No  private  piques  nor  quarrels 
about  nations,  families,  religions  or  politics  must 
by  any  means,  or  under  any  color  or  pretence 
whatsoever,  be  brought  within  the  doors  of  the 
Lodge ;  for  as  Masons  we  are  of  the  ancient  Catho 
lic  religion,  above  mentioned,  and  of  all  nations 
upon  the  square,  level  and  plumb;  and  like  our 
predecessors  in  all  ages,  we  are  resolved  against 
political  disputes,  as  contrary  to  the  peace  and 
welfare  of  the  Lodge. ' 

"We  see  here  an  open  repudiation  of  dogmatic 
religion,  and  a  substitution  therefor  of  what  they 
call  the  religion  of  humanity.  The  Church  of 
Christ  applies  the  word  Catholic  or  universal  to 
itself,  inasmuch  as  it  exists  forever,  teaches  all 
nations,  and  maintains  all  truth.  The  Free 
masons  abuse  this  term  to  indicate  a  pure  natural 
ism  in  which  all  men  are  supposed  to  agree. 

"This  is  acknowledged  by  all  intelligent  Free 
masons.  Thus  Hughan  (The  Freemason 's  Chron 
icle,  1876)  declares:  'The  Christian  character  of 
the  society  under  the  operative  regime  of  former 
centuries  was  exchanged  for  the  unsectarian  regu 
lations,  which  were  to  include  under  its  wing  the 
votaries  of  all  sects,  without  respect  to  their  dif 
ferences  of  color  or  clime,  provided  the  simple 


198  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

conditions  were  observed  of  morality,  mature  age, 
and  an  approved  ballot. ' 

"The  Freemasonic  conception  of  Christ  is  that 
He  was  a  mere  man ;  His  Divinity  is  not  admitted. 
In  fact  we  find  in  the  laws  of  the  German  Grand 
Lodges  the  open  declaration  that  Christ  is  only 
the  wise  and  virtuous  mere  man  (homo  purus). 

"The  Swedish  system  declares  that  Christ 
taught  two  kinds  of  doctrine,  the  exoteric  for  the 
dull  mass  of  the  people,  the  Vulgus,  and  an  eso 
teric  doctrine  for  the  initiated.  In  His  esoteric 
doctrine  they  believe  that  He  disclaimed  to  be  the 
Son  of  God.  Freemasonry  has  fallen  heir  to  His 
esoteric  doctrine.  (Findel,  Die  Schule  der  Hier- 
archie,  etc.,  1870,  15  seqq.) 

"It  is  evident  that  Freemasonry  is  not  a  Chris 
tian  institution,  but  on  the  contrary  is  opposed 
to  Christianity,  for  Christianity  demands  belief 
in  Christ  as  God  as  the  absolute  condition  of  sal 
vation.  'He  that  believeth  and  is  baptized  shall 
be  saved;  but  he  that  believeth  not  shall  be  con 
demned.  >— Mark  XVI.  16. 

"Masonry  is  full  of  ambiguity.  The  purpose 
of  this  ambiguity  is  to  hold  in  membership  men 
who  still  believe  in  a  definite,  revealed  religion, 
while  by  cunningly  devised  statements  they  fur 
nish  sufficient  latitude  for  the  positivist  and  the 
atheist. 

"The  Grand  Orient  of  France  (1877)  expunged 
the  paragraph  which  declared  that  the  existence 


A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO  199 

of  God  and  the  immortality  of  the  soul  are  the 
basis  of  Freemasonry.  The  following  year  it 
expunged  from  its  ritual  and  lodge  proceedings 
all  allusions  to  God,  the  revealed  religion  and  the 
Bible.  Many  lodges  of  England,  Germany  and 
the  United  States  refused  to  fraternize  with  the 
Grand  Orient  of  France  on  account  of  this  action ; 
but  with  the  course  of  years  there  has  been  a 
rapprochement,  due  to  the  fact  that  the  logical 
outcome  of  Freemasonry  is  the  action  of  the 
Grand  Orient  of  France. 

i  l  Freemasons  endeavor  to  save  themselves  from 
the  charge  of  atheism  by  asserting  their  belief  in 
a  Great  Architect  of  the  universe.  How  vague 
this  belief  is  may  be  gleaned  from  the  statement 
of  Zabriskie,  American  Grand  Orator  (13  Nov., 
1889),  that  *  Masons  may  believe  in  many  gods 
if  their  conscience  and  judgment  so  dictate.'  In 
1909,  44,  The  Rivista,  the  official  organ  of  Free 
masonry  in  Italy,  declared  as  follows :  i  The  for 
mula  of  the  Grand  Architect,  which  is  reproached 
to  Masonry  as  ambiguous  and  absurd,  is  the  most 
large-minded  and  righteous  affirmation  of  the  im 
mense  principle  of  existence,  and  may  represent 
as  well  the  God  of  Mazzini  as  the  Satan  of  Giosue 
Carducci;  God  as  the  fountain  of  love,  not  of 
hatred;  Satan  as  the  genius  of  good,  not  of  the 
bad/ 

"Liberty  of  conscience  is  the  inherent  right  of 
a  man  to  seek  truth  without  restraint  or  fear  of 


200  A   DAUGHTEK    OF    MEXICO 

any  kind.  But  this  right  does  not  entitle  a  man 
or  a  system  to  pervert  the  objective  truths  which 
the  Supreme  Being  has  in  divers  ways  delivered 
to  man.  No  man  and  no  system  has  the  right 
to  say  to  men  that  it  is  indifferent  what  they  be 
lieve.  All  the  prophets  from  Abel  to  John  the 
Baptist,  and  all  the  teachers  of  the  New  Testa 
ment  proclaimed  to  men  the  falsity  of  all  cults 
save  the  one  definite,  exclusive  belief  in  the  Living 
God  and  in  His  Son  the  Messiah.  In  condemning 
religious  error  and  teaching  positive  dogmatic 
truth  they  did  not  invade  man's  liberty  of  con 
science,  no  more  than  the  teacher  violates  the 
pupil's  liberty  of  mind  in  teaching  that  two  and 
two  are  four,  and  never  can  be  anything  else  but 
four. 

"Freemasonry,  skilfully  making  use  of  that 
false  conception  of  liberty  which  pervaded  all  the 
peoples  of  Europe  in  the  eighteenth  century,  has 
drawn  men  into  its  ranks  in  great  numbers  by 
this  absurd  cant  about  liberty  of  conscience. 

"Freemasonry  many  a  time  and  oft  declares 
that  it  is  opposed  to  all  dogmatic  religion.  To 
follow  this  principle  we  must  reject  that  sublime 
message  of  God  to  the  world,  'Hear,  0  Israel:  the 
Lord  our  God  is  one  God :  and  thou  shalt  love  the 
Lord  thy  God  with  all  thine  heart,  and  with  all 
thy  soul,  and  with  all  thy  might7  (Deut.  VI.  4), 
because  it  is  a  dogmatic  declaration  of  the  unity 
of  God.  We  must  reject  the  declaration  of  Christ, 


A    DAUGHTEK    OF    MEXICO  201 

'I  am  the  Eesurrection  and  the  Life:  he  that  be- 
lieveth  in  Me,  though  he  die,  yet  shall  he  live :  and 
whosoever  liveth  and  believeth  in  Me  shall  never 
die'  (John  XL  25,  26),  because  it  is  a  dogmatic 
declaration  of  the  character  of  Christ. 

"The  original  plan  of  Freemasonry  was  not  to 
admit  to  membership  the  masses.  The  '  Key 
stone,'  of  Philadelphia,  declares:  ' Freemasonry 
has  no  right  to  be  popular.  It  is  a  secret  society. 
It  is  for  the  few,  not  for  the  many ;  for  the  select, 
not  for  the  masses. ' 

"The  Freemason's  Chronicle  (London)  de 
plores  the  tendency  of  the  times.  *  Numbers  are 
being  admitted  *  *  *  whose  sole  object  is  to 
make  their  membership  a  means  for  advancing 
their  pecuniary  interest'  (1881,  I.,  66).  'There 
are  a  goodly  number  again  who  value  Freema 
sonry  solely  for  the  convivial  meetings  attached  to 
it. '  '  Again  I  hear  men  say  openly  that  they  have 
joined  to  gain  introduction  to  a  certain  class  of 
individuals  as  a  trading  matter,  and  that  they  were 
forced  to  do  so  because  every  one  did  so.  Then 
there  is  the  great  class  who  join  it  out  of  curiosity, 
or  perhaps  because  somebody  in  a  position  above 
them  is  a  Mason.'  'Near  akin  to  this  is  that 
class  of  individuals  who  wish  for  congenial  so 
ciety'  (1884,  II.,  196).  'In  Masonry  they  find  the 
means  of  ready  access  to  society,  which  is  denied 
to  them  by  social  conventionalities.  They  have 
wealth,  but  neither  by  birth  nor  education  are  they 


202  A   DAUGHTEK    OF    MEXICO 

eligible  for  polite  and  fine  intercourse/  'The 
shop  is  never  absent  from  their  words  and  deeds.  ' 
"The  Masonic  body  includes  a  large  number  of 
publicans'  (1885,  I.  259).  If  we  add  the  desire 
for  political  power  we  shall  have  a  grouping  of 
the  main  objects  for  which  men  enter  the  Masonic 
order.  It  is  a  base  piece  of  deception,  therefore, 
to  pretend  that  Masonry  is  a  great  force  for  the 
moral  uplifting  of  men.  Every  object  as  set 
forth  by  their  own  leading  mouthpiece  is  miser 
ably  selfish. 

"Masonry  professes  as  its  golden  rule  brotherly 
love,  relief  and  truth.  The  first  two  of  these  prin 
ciples,  understood  as  assistance  in  all  the  affairs 
of  life,  seem  to  be  the  main  cause  of  joining  the 
Masonic  lodge.  This  assistance  is  formulated  in 
five  points  of  fellowship  and  the  i  grand  hailing 
sign  of  distress. ' 

"By  his  oath  the  Master  Mason  is  bound  to 
uphold  the  five  points  of  fellowship  in  act  as  well 
as  in  words,  and  to  recognize  always  the  sign  of 
distress.  The  Royal  Arch  Mason  swears:  'I 
will  assist  a  companion  Royal  Arch  Mason  when 
I  see  him  engaged  in  any  difficulty,  and  will  espouse 
his  cause  so  as  to  extricate  him  from  the  same, 
whether  he  be  right  or  wrong '  (American  Ritual, 
229).  Experience  attests  that  wherever  Free 
masonry  is  powerful,  non-Masons  suffer.  The 
systematic  preferment  which  Masons  extend  to 
each  other  in  the  affairs  of  life  is  detrimental  to 


A   DAUGHTEK   OF    MEXICO  203 

the  course  of  justice,  to  civic  equality,  to  patriot 
ism,  and  all  public  interests.  Masonic  authors  of 
high  repute  recommend  and  praise  unlawful  and 
treacherous  acts  performed  to  render  the  '  assist 
ance  '  demanded  by  the  oath.  This  principle  of 
Freemasonry  is  so  well  known  that  we  need  not 
adduce  testimonials  to  prove  it.  In  a  recent  Free 
mason  publication,  entitled  'Low  Twelve/  the 
author  relates  with  warm  approval  incidents 
wherein  help  was  given  to  Confederate  Free 
masons  by  Union  Freemasons,  which  acts  were 
clearly  treasonable.  In  fact,  in  the  statutes  of 
Freemasonry  treason  and  rebellion  against  civil 
authority  are  declared  to  be  only  political  crimes, 
which  in  nowise  affect  the  good  standing  of  a 
brother,  and  furnish  no  ground  for  a  Masonic  trial. 

* '  Though  there  have  been  many  dissensions  be 
tween  Freemason  bodies  and  systems  throughout 
the  world,  there  remains  a  solidarity  of  Free 
masonry  in  the  world,  so  that  the  same  general 
spirit  pervades  all  Freemasonry. 

' '  One  of  the  greatest  deceptions  ever  practised 
on  humanity  is  Masonic  symbolism,  and  yet  Pike 
declares  that  'the  symbolism  of  Freemasonry  is 
the  very  soul  of  Masonry '  (Ars  Quattuor  Corona- 
torum,  XVI.  28).  This  statement  of  Pike  is  most 
true.  It  is  remarkable  that  men  are  deceived  by 
this  baseless  nonsense.  By  involving  the  whole 
universe  in  this  mysterious  web  they  are  able  to 
conceal  the  real  purposes  of  Masonry,  and  allure 


204  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

the  aspiring  candidate  to  expect  always  a  fuller 
view  of  Masonic  light. 

"The  American  Freemason  has  published  a 
long  article  on  Masonic  symbols  which  only  a  man 
under  the  influence  of  a  malign  spirit  can  accept. 
Freemasonry  would  make  the  Great  Architect  the 
first  Freemason.  They  are  not  particular 
whether  we  recognize  Baal,  Shemesh,  Zeus,  Jove, 
Ammon,  Min,  Osiris,  or  Priapus  as  that  Supreme 
Architect.  Even  the  hideous  Phallic  worship  is 
looked  upon  with  favor.  The  aforementioned 
Pike  declares:  i Masonry  propagates  no  creed 
except  its  own  most  simple  and  sublime  one,  taught 
by  nature  and  reason.  There  has  never  been  a 
false  religion  in  the  world '  (Ibid.  (4)  I.  271). 

"Hence,  according  to  Freemasons  there  is  no 
religion  revealed  except  what  is  revealed  by  na 
ture  and  comprehended  by  human  reason.  It  is 
indifferent  whether  a  man  worships  Christ  or 
Osiris,  and  a  Phallic  emblem  has  the  same  honor 
as  the  cross.  Therefore  St.  Paul  was  a  bigot 
when  he  called  upon  men  to  turn  away  from 
dumb  idols  to  serve  the  Living  God. 

"What  a  fearful  hypocrisy  it  is  for  Protestant 
clergymen  to  pretend  that  they  believe  in  the  one 
true  God  and  redemption  through  Jesus  Christ, 
and  at  the  same  time  affiliate  themselves  with  the 
Freemason  lodge!  Freemasonry  has  the  marks 
and  characteristics  of  the  fearful  Antichrist  men 
tioned  by  St.  John. 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  205 

"In  their  symbolism  Royalty  is  the  first  assas 
sin  of  Hiram,  striking  with  its  iron  rule  at  the 
throat  of  Hiram  and  making  freedom  of  speech 
treason.  The  second  assassin  is  the  Papacy  aim 
ing  the  square  of  steel  at  the  heart  of  the  victim. 
Hence  the  avowed  object  of  Masonry  is  to  over 
throw  the  throne  and  the  altar. 

"The  vast  majority  of  Freemasons  are  uninitia 
ted,  and  those  of  the  higher  degrees  who  are  sup 
posed  to  have  guessed  the  great  secret  of  Masonry 
look  down  with  disdain  on  the  lower  degrees. 
'The  Masonry  of  the  higher  degrees  teaches  the 
great  truths  of  intellectual  science ;  but  as  to  these, 
even  as  to  the  rudiments  and  first  principles,  Blue 
Masonry  is  absolutely  dumb.'  'The  pretended 
possession  of  mysterious  secrets  has  enabled  Blue 
Masonry  to  number  its  initiates  by  tens  of  thou 
sands.'  'Never  were  any  pretences  to  the  pos 
session  of  mysterious  knowledge  so  baseless  and 
so  absurd  as  those  of  the  Blue  and  Eoyal  Arch 
Chapter  degrees'  (Pike,  ibid.  I,  311;  IV.  388). 
'  The  aping  Christianity  of  Blue  Masonry  made  it 
simply  an  emasculated  and  impotent  society,  with 
large  and  sounding  pretences  and  slender  per 
formances.  And  yet  its  multitudes  adhere  to  it, 
because  initiation  is  a  necessity  for  the  human 
soul;  and  because  it  (human  soul)  instinctively 
longs  for  a  union  of  the  many  under  the  control 
of  a  single  will,  in  things  spiritual  as  well  as  in 


206  A   DAUGHTER   OF   MEXICO 

things  temporal,  for  a  Hierarchy  and  a  Monarch ' 
(ibid.  IV.  389). 

"  i  Brethren  high  in  rank  and  office  are  often 
unacquainted  with  the  elementary  principles  of 
the  science '  (Oliver,  Theocratic  Philosophy,  355). 
'Masons  may  be  fifty  years  Masters  of  the  Chair 
and  yet  not  learn  the  secret  of  the  Brotherhood. 
This  secret  is,  in  its  own  nature,  invulnerable ;  for 
the  Mason,  to  whom  it  has  become  known,  can  only 
have  guessed  it,  and  certainly  not  have  received  it 
from  any  one;  he  has  discovered  it  because  he 
has  been  in  the  lodge,  marked,  learned  and  in 
wardly  digested.  When  he  arrives  at  the  discov 
ery,  he  unquestionably  keeps  it  to  himself,  not 
communicating  it  to  his  most  intimate  brother,  be 
cause,  should  this  person  not  have  capability  to 
discover  it  of  himself,  he  would  likewise  be  want 
ing  in  the  capability  to  use  it,  if  he  received  it 
verbally.  For  this  reason  it  will  forever  remain 
a  secret'  (Oliver,  Hist.  Landmarks,  I.  11,  21). 

"When  thieves  fall  out,  good  men  come  into 
possession  of  their  own.  What  Pike,  Oliver  and 
others  say  of  the  deceit  and  chicanery  of  the  lower 
degrees  of  Masonry  surely  is  applicable  to  the 
whole  system.  This  cabalistic  effort  to  defend 
the  secret  knowledge  acquired  by  guessing  in  the 
higher  degrees  is  more  absurd  than  anything  the 
Talmudists  ever  wrote. 

"Notwithstanding  the  inanity  and  absurd  pre 
tences  admitted  by  the  first  exponents  of  Masonry 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  207 

to  exist  in  the  lower  degrees  of  Masonry,  the  oath 
taken  in  these  degrees  is  most  solemn  and  fearful. 
The  oath  of  the  first  degree  is  as  follows:  'I,  in 
the  presence  of  the  Great  Architect  of  the  universe 
*  *  *  do  hereby  and  her  eon  solemnly  and  sin 
cerely  swear  that  I  will  always  hide,  conceal  and 
never  reveal  any  part  or  parts,  any  point  or  points 
of  the  secrets  or  mysteries  of  or  belonging  to  Free 
and  Accepted  Masons  in  Freemasonry  which  may 
heretofore  have  been  known  by,  shall  now,  or  may 
at  any  future  time,  be  communicated  to  me,  etc.' 
1  These  several  points  I  solemly  swear  to  observe 
under  no  less  penalty  than  to  have  my  throat  cut 
across,  my  tongue  torn  out  by  the  root,  and  my 
body  buried  in  the  sands  of  the  sea, '  i  or  the  more 
efficient  punishment  of  being  branded  as  a  wilfully 
perjured  individual,  void  of  all  moral  worth ' 
(Ritual).  The  oaths  in  the  more  advanced  de 
grees  are  similar,  but  have  severer  penalties. 
There  is  a  direct  allusion  to  Freemasonry 's  hatred 
of  the  authority  of  the  Catholic  Church  in  the  oath 
of  the  Thirtieth  Degree,  in  which  the  initiated 
swears  '  never  to  submit  to  or  tolerate  any  in 
tellectual  despotism  that  may  pretend  to  chain 
or  fetter  free  thought.' 

"With  strange  inconsistency  this  same  initiated 
Mason  swears  'to  obey  without  hesitation  any  or 
der,  whatever  it  may  be,  of  my  regular  superiors 
in  the  order'  (Pike,  ibid.  IV.  470,  479,  488,  520). 


208  A    DAUGHTEB    OF    MEXICO 

1  i  The  supreme  ideal  of  the  Freemason  is  to  be 
come  a  Knight  Kadosh  (holy  knight) ;  all  Knights 
Kadosh  are  bound  to  help  each  other  at  the  sign 
of  distress  in  whatsoever  peril. 

1 '  Freemasons  in  the  Latin  countries  are  mainly 
absorbed  in  political  activity.  In  England,  Ger 
many  and  America  they  pretend  to  be  philan 
thropic,  but  this  philanthropy  consists  in  assist 
ing  their  brethren  in  the  craft,  to  the  prejudice  of 
more  worthy  non-Masonic  citizens.  Selfishness, 
not  the  love  of  humanity,  inspires  Freemasonry. 
Members  of  the  higher  classes  of  society  enter  it 
for  political  and  social  power;  the  mercantile 
class  enter  it  to  sell  their  wares;  the  mechanics 
enter  it  for  industrial  preferment. 

"The  display  of  American  Freemasonry  moves 
to  disgust  Masonic  writers.  l  The  Masonry  of  this 
continent  (America)  has  gone  mad  after  high 
degreeism  and  grand  titleism.  We  tell  the 
brethren  that  if  they  do  not  pay  more  attention 
to  the  pure,  simple,  beautiful  symbolism  of  the 
lodge,  and  less  to  the  tinsel,  furbelow,  fuss  and 
feathers  of  Scotch  Riteism  and  Templarism,  the 
craft  will  yet  be  shaken  to  its  very  foundations/ 
1  Let  the  tocsin  be  sounded '  (Freemason's  Chron 
icle,  London,  1880,  II.  179). 

"  'Many  Masons  have  passed  through  the  cere 
mony  without  any  inspiration;  but  in  public 
parades  of  the  lodges  they  may  generally  be  found 
in  the  front  rank,  and  at  the  Masonic  banquets 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  209 

they  can  neither  be  equalled  nor  excelled'  (ibid., 
1892,1.  246). 

"Freemasonry  is  dishonest  in  declaring  that  it 
does  not  directly  and  actively  interfere  in  party 
politics.  In  the  French  Eevolution  (1789)  and 
the  revolutionary  movements  in  Italy,  Spain, 
Portugal,  Central  and  South  America,  and  the 
Philippine  Islands  Freemasonry  took  an  active 
part.  This  is  acknowledged  by  prominent  Free 
mason  authors  and  impartial  historians  (Gruber, 
Masonry). 

"In  the  eighteenth  century  Freemasonry  in 
France,  as  an  ally  of  infidelity,  prepared  the 
French  Eevolution.  When  Voltaire  (7  Feb., 
1778)  was  solemnly  initiated  in  the  Freemasons 
his  principles  were  also  received. 

1  i  Mazzini,  Garibaldi  and  many  other  prominent 
leaders  of  the  Italian  Revolution  were  Free 
masons. 

' '  Freemasons  instigated  and  promoted  the  Kul- 
turkampf  in  Germany  and  in  Switzerland.  Grand 
Master  Bluntschli  was  the  foremost  agitator  of 
the  Kulturkampf  in  both  these  countries  (Gruber, 
Masonry). 

'  '  The  Grand  Orient  of  France  is  the  dominating 
force  in  the  anti-clerical  combat  in  France.  In 
no  country  in  the  world  does  Freemasonry  rule 
the  counsels  of  state  as  in  France,  and  surely  few 
countries  are  worse  governed.  The  decrees 
against  the  Catholic  Church  in  France  are  first 


210  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

formulated  and  decided  in  the  Freemason  lodges, 
and  then  passed  in  the  French  Parliament.  The 
Freemasons  boast  of  this. 

"In  1903  the  Freemason  deputy,  Masse,  de 
clared  thus :  'I  said  in  the  assembly  of  1898  that 
it  is  the  supreme  duty  of  Freemasonry  to  inter 
fere  each  day  more  and  more  in  political  and 
profane  struggles/  *  Success  is  in  a  large  meas 
ure  due  to  Freemasonry;  for  it  is  its  spirit,  its 
program,  its  methods  that  have  triumphed.'  'If 
the  Bloc  has  been  established,  this  is  owing  to 
Freemasonry  and  to  the  discipline  learned  in  the 
lodges.  The  measures  we  have  now  to  urge  are 
the  separation  of  Church  and  State  and  a  law 
concerning  instruction.  Let  us  put  our  trust  in 
the  word  of  our  Bro.  Combes/  'For  a  long 
time  Freemasonry  has  been  simply  the  Republic 
in  disguise/  'We  are  the  conscience  of  the  coun 
try;'  'we  are  each  year  the  funeral  bell  announc 
ing  the  death  of  a  cabinet  that  has  not  done  its 
duty,  but  has  betrayed  the  Eepublic;  or  we  are 
its  support,  encouraging  it  by  saying  in  a  solemn 
hour:  I  present  you  the  word  of  the  country/ 
'We  need  vigilance,  and  above  all  mutual  confi 
dence,  if  we  are  to  accomplish  our  work,  as  yet  un 
finished.  This  work,  you  know  *  *  *  the  anti 
clerical  combat,  is  going  on.  The  Kepublic  must 
rid  itself  of  the  religious  congregations,  sweeping 
them  off  by  a  vigorous  stroke.  The  system  of 
half -measures  is  everywhere  dangerous;  the  ad- 


A   DAUGHTEK    OF    MEXICO  211 

versary  must  be  crushed  by  a  single  blow' 
(Compte-rendu,  Grand  Orient,  1903,  Nourisson, 
"Les  Jacobins,'7  266-271,  Gruber,  Masonry). 
These  recommendations  have  been  literally  car 
ried  out. 

"Here  we  see  the  hypocrisy  and  falsity  of  Ma 
sonry.  By  its  basic  constitution  it  claims  to  be  a 
society  for  the  freedom  and  uplift  of  humanity, 
leaving  to  men  absolute  freedom  in  religion  and 
politics ;  and  here  we  see  the  real  Freemason  exer 
cising  an  anti-clerical  despotism  on  the  nation, 
and  persecuting  and  despoiling  Catholics,  who  cer 
tainly  are  Catholics  by  persuasion  of  conscience. 

"  Freemasonry  also  is  false  in  declaring  that  it 
opposes  no  religious  belief.  On  the  20th  of  Sep 
tember,  1902,  Senator  Delpech,  President  of  the 
Grand  Orient,  declared  as  follows :  '  The  triumph 
of  the  Galilean  has  lasted  twenty  centuries.  But 
now  He  dies  in  His  turn.  The  mysterious  voice 
announcing  the  death  of  Pan,  today  announces  the 
death  of  the  imposter  God,  who  promised  an  era 
of  justice  and  peace  to  those  who  believe  in  Him. 
The  illusion  has  lasted  a  long  time.  The  menda 
cious  God  is  now  disappearing  in  His  turn;  He 
passes  away  to  join  in  the  dust  of  ages  the  other 
divinities  of  India,  Egypt,  Greece  and  Rome,  who 
saw  so  many  deceived  creatures  prostrate  before 
their  altars.  Brother  Masons,  we  rejoice  to  state 
that  we  are  not  without  our  share  in  this  over 
throw  of  the  false  prophets.  The  Romish  Church, 


212  A   DAUGHTEK    OF    MEXICO 

founded  on  the  Galilean  myth,  began  to  decay 
rapidly  from  the  very  day  on  which  the  Masonic 
Association  was  established'  ( Compte-rendu, 
Grand  Orient  of  France,  1902,  381). 

1 '  This  fearful  blasphemy  is  not  an  accident  of 
Freemasonry;  it  is  the  spirit  of  Freemasonry, 
which,  according  to  circumstances  and  conditions, 
will  manifest  itself.  The  low  moral  tone  in  pri 
vate  and  public  life,  the  disunion  among  the 
Catholics,  the  political  blunders  of  the  clerical 
party,  the  weakening  of  faith,  apathy,  the  desire 
to  share  in  the  offices  of  the  government  have 
made  it  possible  for  the  Freemason  minority  to 
exercise  this  despotism  upon  the  non-Masonic 
majority,  and  falsely  boast  that  they  are  the  i  con 
science'  of  the  nation  of  France. 

"The  Grand  Orient  of  Italy  has  similar  prin 
ciples  and  similar  aims.  It  openly  declares  an  in 
sidious  war  upon  the  Papacy,  represented  as  the 
exponent  of  '  spiritual  darkness  and  bondage.' 

"In  the  year  1889,  July  16,  17,  there  was  held 
at  Paris  an  international  Masonic  congress.  The 
Grand  Lodges  of  France,  Switzerland,  Belgium, 
Italy,  Spain,  Hungary,  Portugal,  Greece,  Brazil 
and  Massachusetts  were  represented.  The  object 
of  the  congress  was  to  strengthen  the  solidarity  of 
Masonry  and  to  apply  to  universal  society  the 
principles  of  the  French  Revolution. 

"Freemasonry  boasts  that  it  is  unsectarian; 
but  in  reality  it  is  an  anti-Catholic,  anti- Christian, 


A    DAUGHTEK    OF    MEXICO  213 

atheistic  (cunningly  atheistic,  not  stupidly  so), 
positivistic,  sectarian  naturalism.  There  is  no 
society  in  the  world  so  intolerant  of  Catholicity. 

"England  has  thus  far  refused  to  fraternize 
with  the  French  Freemasonry,  more  perhaps  on 
account  of  a  difference  of  political  view  than  from 
any  religious  principle.  In  1907,  through  its 
registrar,  the  Grand  Lodge  of  England  declared: 
'We  feel  that  we  in  England  are  better  apart 
from  such  people.  Indeed,  Freemasonry  is  in 
such  bad  odor  on  the  continent  of  Europe,  by 
reason  of  its  being  exploited  by  Socialists  and 
Anarchists,  that  we  may  have  to  break  off  rela 
tions  with  more  of  the  Grand  Bodies  who  have 
forsaken  our  landmarks'  ('The  New  Age/  New 
York,  1909, 1.  177,  Gruber,  Masonry). 

"Some  of  the  American  lodges  have  followed 
the  example  of  England,  but  the  lodges  of  other 
countries  quite  generally  accept  the  principles  of 
the  Grand  Orient.  The  lodges  of  the  Latin  coun 
tries  surpass  those  of  France  in  their  hatred  of 
their  church.  In  the  lodges  of  the  United  States 
we  find  a  growing  tendency  to  adopt  the  prin 
ciples  of  the  Grand  Orient  of  France.  The  lodges 
of  Iowa  have  adopted  without  scruple  the  views 
of  the  French  Lodge.  'The  American  Free 
mason/  as  we  shall  see  later  on,  pleads  for  the 
French  Lodge. 

"The  American,  J.  D.  Buck,  a  33d  degree 
Mason,  advocates  in  his  book,  'The  Genius  of 


214  A   DAUGHTEK    OF    MEXICO 

Freemasonry '  (1906),  an  active  persecution  of 
the  Church.  His  book  passed  through  several 
editions  and  is  endorsed  by  leading  Masonic  jour 
nals. 

"In  1886  A.  Pike,  of  Charleston,  South  Caro 
lina,  a  33d  degree  Mason,  Grand  Commander  of 
the  Mother  Supreme  Council  of  the  World,  wrote 
to  the  Grand  Commander,  T.  Riboli,  the  ally  of 
Garibaldi,  to  do  all  in  his  power  to  unite  Free 
masonry  against  the  Papacy.  "The  Papacy,'  he 
writes,  *  *  *  *  has  been  for  a  thousand  years 
the  torturer  and  curse  of  humanity,  the  most 
shameless  imposture,  in  its  pretence  to  spiritual 
power  of  all  ages.  With  its  robes  wet  and  reek 
ing  with  the  blood  of  half  a  million  of  human 
beings,  with  the  grateful  odor  of  roasted  human 
flesh  always  in  its  nostrils,  it  is  exulting  over  the 
prospect  of  renewed  dominion.  It  has  sent  all 
over  the  world  its  anathemas  against  constitu 
tional  government  and  the  right  of  men  to  free 
dom  of  thought  and  conscience. '  '  In  presence  of 
this  spiritual  "Cobra  di  capello"  (hooded  cobra), 
this  deadly,  treacherous,  murderous,  enemy,  the 
most  formidable  power  in  the  world,  the  unity  of 
Italian  Freemasonry  is  of  absolute  and  supreme 
necessity;  and  to  this  paramount  and  omnipotent 
necessity  all  minor  considerations  ought  to  yield ; 
dissensions  and  disunion,  in  presence  of  this 
enemy  of  the  human  race,  are  criminal/  'The 
Freemasonry  of  the  world  will  rejoice  to  see  ac- 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  215 

complished  and  consummated  the  unity  of  the 
Italian  Freemasonry'  (Official  Bulletin,  Sept., 
1887,  173;  Gruber,  Freemasonry). 

"Leading  American  Freemason  journals 
(American  Tyler-Keystone,  Freemason's  Chron 
icle,  American  Freemason)  endorse  the  principles 
of  the  Grand  Orient  of  France.  Those  also  who 
glory  in  the  unity  of  the  craft  in  all  lands  im 
plicitly  endorse  French  ideals.  'The  absolute 
oneness  of  the  craft  is  a  glorious  thought.' 
'  Neither  boundaries  of  states,  nor  vast  oceans 
separate  the  Masonic  Fraternity.  Everywhere  it 
is  one.'  *  There  is  no  universal  church,  no  uni 
versal  body  politic;  but  there  is  a  universal  Fra 
ternity,  that  of  Freemasonry;  and  every  brother 
who  is  a  worthy  member  may  feel  proud  of  it' 
(Freemason's  Chronicle,  1906,  II.  132,  Gruber, 
Freemasonry) . 

"We  see  in  this  statement  deceit  and  shame 
less  lying.  At  the  very  time  that  the  Grand 
Master  Clifford  P.  McCalla,  of  Pennsylvania,  was 
writing  this,  England  was  repudiating  the  whole 
Continental  Masonry. 

"Freemasonry  surely  has  the  cunning  of  the 
serpent.  It  employs  all  its  power  to  entice  into 
its  membership  intellectual  leaders,  and  then  it 
boasts  that  Freemasonry  gave  these  men  their  in 
spiration.  Thus  the  German  lodges  boast  that 
Fichte,  Herder,  Wieland,  Lessing,  Goethe  were 
Masons. 


216  A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

' '  That  these  men  were  deceived  by  Masonry  ap 
pears  clearly  from  their  writings.  Goethe  char 
acterized  them  as  ' fools  and  rogues.'  'I  bear  a 
deadly  hatred  to  all  secret  societies,  and  as  a  re 
sult  of  my  experience,  both  within  their  innermost 
circles  and  outside,  I  wish  them  all  to  the  devil. 
For  persistent  domineering  intrigues  and  the 
spirit  of  cabal  creep  beneath  the  cover'  (Herder 
to  Bro.  Heyne,  Jan.,  1786;  Gruber,  Masonry). 

"According  to  the  'Cyclopedia  of  Fraternities,' 
p.  V.,  there  are  in  the  United  States  over  600 
secret  societies,  so  that  every  third  adult  male  is 
a  member  of  one  or  more  of  these  societies.  Free 
masonry  is  the  mother  society;  the  others  are 
more  or  less  fashioned  after  its  symbolism  and 
greatly  influenced  by  it.  'Few  who  are  well  in 
formed  on  the  subject  will  deny  that  the  Masonic 
Fraternity  is  directly  or  indirectly  the  parent  or 
ganization  of  all  modern  secret  societies,  good, 
bad  and  indifferent'  (ibid.,  p.  XV.). 

"Freemasonry,  like  all  false  systems,  abounds 
in  inconsistencies.  The  exponents  of  Freema 
sonry  often  declare  that  there  is  nothing  in  Free 
masonry  that  conflicts  with  any  religious  creed. 
'There  is  nothing  in  the  nature  of  the  society 
(Freemasonry)  that  necessitates  the  renunciation 
of  a  single  sentence  of  any  creed,  the  discontin 
uance  of  any  religious  customs,  or  the  obliteration 
of  a  dogma  of  belief.  No  one  is  asked  to  deny 
the  Bible,  to  change  his  church  relations,  or  to 


A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  217 

be  less  attentive  to  the  teaching  of  his  spiritual 
instructors  and  counselors '  (Freemason's  Chron 
icle,  1887,  II.  49).  '  Masonry  indeed  contains  the 
pith  of  Christianity'  (ibid.,  1875,  I.  113).  'It  is 
a  great  mistake  to  suppose  it  (Freemasonry)  an 
enemy  of  the  Church. '  '  It  does  not  offer  itself 
as  a  substitute  of  that  divinely  ordained  institu 
tion. '  'It  offers  itself  as  an  adjunct,  as  an  ally, 
as  a  helper  in  the  great  work  of  the  regeneration 
of  the  race,  of  the  uplifting  of  man'  (ibid.,  1890, 
II.  101).  These  protestations  cannot  be  sincere. 
The  nature  of  the  Catholic  Church  is  and  forever 
must  be  essentially  opposed  to  Masonry.  Of 
course,  if  the  Catholic  Church  abandoned  her  con 
stitution,  given  her  by  her  Divine  Founder,  and 
became  Freemason,  the  opposition  would  cease. 
The  Church  delivers  to  man  a  message  from 
Heaven,  'One  God,  one  faith,  one  baptism.'  The 
Church  teaches  with  authority  because  she  was 
founded  so  to  teach  by  Him  'who  taught  with  au 
thority  and  not  as  the  Scribes  and  Pharisees.' 

"Now  Freemasonry  is  directly  opposed  to  the 
essential  dogmatism  of  the  Church  and  to  her  au 
thority.  When  Freemasons  rightly  informed 
speak  honestly  they  admit  this  essential  opposi 
tion  and  openly  attack  the  Church.  Thus  J.  C. 
Parkinson,  an  illustrious  English  Mason:  'The 
two  systems  of  Romanism  and  Freemasonry  are 
not  only  incompatible,  but  they  are  radically  op 
posed  to  each  other'  (Freemason's  Chronicle, 


218  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

1884,  II.  17).  'We  won't  make  a  man  a  Free 
mason  until  we  know  that  lie  isn't  a  Catholic' 
(ibid.,  1890,  II.  347). 

i  i  Freemasons  sometimes  pretend  that  they  have 
the  true  Catholic  religion,  in  which  all  men  agree, 
with  the  priesthood,  the  Papacy,  and  dogmas  left 
out.  The  sheer  folly  of  this  pretension  renders 
its  refutation  unnecessary. 

4 'To  render  clear  the  opposition  between  the 
Catholic  Church  and  Freemasonry,  we  have  col 
lected  a  few  data  of  recent  publication. 

"In  the  issue  of  March,  1915,  THE  AMERICAN 
FREEMASON  clearly  and  vigorously  approves  of 
the  acts  of  injustice  and  violence  which  the  Con 
stitutionalists  have  wrought  in  Mexico.  On  page 
210  it  declares  that  the  maintenance  of  Catholi 
cism  in  Mexico  is  'against  the  wishes  of  a  majority 
of  the  people.' 

"Now  it  is  evident  that  the  vast  majority  of 
the  Mexican  people  wish  the  Catholic  Church  to 
be  restored  to  her  full  rights,  and  to  be  allowed 
to  exercise  fully  all  her  activities.  The  mis 
creants  who  are  in  power  are  only  a  small  per 
centage  of  the  people.  Freemasonry  thrives  be 
cause  the  world  wishes  to  be  deceived. 

"When  the  French  Grand  Lodge  expunged 
from  their  ritual  all  reference  to  God  and  Chris 
tian  religion,  the  English  Grand  Lodge  refused  to 
recognize  the  Grand  Orient  of  France,  and  some 
American  lodges  followed  the  example  of  England. 


A   DAUGHTEK    OF    MEXICO  219 

But  the  atheistic  action  of  France,  being  logically 
in  accord  with  the  spirit  of  Freemasonry,  is  draw 
ing  the  lodges  to  approve  and  follow  it : 

"  'The  English-speaking  craft  has  reached  its 
present  high  place  without  opposition  worth 
speaking  of;  it  has  been  free  to  move  along  such 
lines  as  promised  best  results.  The  same  may  be 
said,  at  least  for  a  considerable  period,  for  the 
institution  in  Germany.  But  in  France,  Italy, 
Belgium,  Spain  and  Portugal,  Freemasonry  has 
from  the  first  been  put  upon  the  defensive,  and 
has,  from  the  very  nature  of  its  surroundings,  be 
come  an  aggressive  fighting  force.  It  has  been 
necessary  for  brothers  in  these  countries — as  also 
in  South  America — to  face  a  determined  and 
irreconcilable  foe.  Every  step  gained  has  come 
of  sharp  conflict.  The  mild  moralities  and  rou 
tine  exercises  held  sufficient  for  Anglo-Saxon 
Masonry  were  not  adequate  to  prove  the  quality 
of  craftsmen  in  France  and  Italy,  to  mention  no 
other  countries.  Those  have  acquired  the  sterner 
virtues,  and  there  is  far  more  to  their  lodges  than 
ritualistic  mouthings  and  banquetings.  They  are 
not  engaged  in  pushing  ignorant  candidates  from 
point  to  point  in  a  series  of  degrees,  with  nothing 
at  the  end  but  a  number  and  a  bizarre  ornament. 
They  have  found  it  necessary  to  ally  them 
selves  with  the  national  and  international  forces 
struggling  for  progress  and  enlightenment. 
That  they  have  been  loyal  allies  is  certainly 


220  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

to  their  credit,  rather  than  matter  of  re 
proach.  Nor  is  it  to  be  wondered  at  that 
these  found  it  needful  that  the  lines  of  distinction 
between  themselves  and  the  forces  of  reaction 
should  be  sharply  drawn.  They  could  not  afford 
to  carry  useless  weight  to  the  fighting  line,  nor 
wear  uniform  or  insignia  that  might  prejudice  or 
confuse  their  allies.  Thus  is  to  be  explained  the 
action  of  the  Grand  Orient  of  France  in  making 
change  in  its  constitution,  eliminating  any  re 
ligious  or  dogmatic  formula.  And  the  immediate 
English  and  American  cry  of  "  atheism "  was  no 
more  than  a  contemptible  echo  of  the  howl  set  up 
by  bitterest  enemies  of  the  entire  craft.  The  re 
moval  of  dogmatic  expression  from  the  basic  docu 
ment  of  French  Masonry  cannot  be  rightly  con 
strued  as  a  denial  of  the  G.  A.  0.  T.  U.  However, 
the  opponents  of  Freemasonry  knew  the  charac 
teristics  of  the  English-speaking  peoples;  knew 
with  what  calm  assurance  they  took  to  themselves 
any  intimation  of  being  better  than  their  neigh 
bors;  knew,  too,  their  proneness  to  follow  upon 
catch-words  rather  than  to  consider  a  situation 
logically. 

1  i  '  On  the  other  hand  the  French  craft  is  a  more 
carefully  selected  body  of  men;  not  chosen  be 
cause  of  social  standing,  but  for  proven  ability. 
In  consequence  French  Freemasonry  outranks 
that  of  almost  all  other  countries  for  intelligence, 
information  and  insistence  upon  making  the  fra- 


A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO  221 

ternity  of  value  among  the  agencies  for  progress. 
The  various  Masonic  periodicals  of  France  admit 
to  their  pages  subjects  that  would  seem  strange 
to  brothers  of  England  and  America.  Sociology, 
history  and  economics  are  dealt  with,  and  are  de 
bated  on  a  high  plane  and  with  true  fraternal 
courtesy.  Thus,  in  part  at  least,  is  to  be  ex 
plained  how  a  comparatively  few  men  can  exert 
such  influence  in  the  affairs  of  the  nation ' 
(American  Freemason,  Dec.,  1914). 

"Freemasonry  boasts  of  its  hostility  to  the 
Catholic  Church: 

"  'This  magazine  has  never  swerved  from  the 
position  that  between  the  Masonic  fraternity  and 
the  Catholic  Church  there  is  an  antagonism  in 
herent  to  the  very  nature  of  the  organizations; 
the  one  seeking  the  broadest  liberty  of  thought 
and  the  utmost  freedom  of  the  individual  con 
science,  and  the  other  striving  to  stifle  any  revolt 
against  the  self-constituted  authority  that  would 
hold  mind  and  soul  in  thraldom.  We  have  de 
clared  that  there  can  be  no  peace,  nor  even  truce, 
between  Freemasonry  and  the  official  Roman 
Church'  (American  Freemason). 

"  'I  have  mentioned  Freemasonry  as  it  has 
existence  in  the  countries  of  Continental  Europe. 
There  is  no  doubt  that  the  organization  is  hostile 
to  the  Church,  and  that  it  has,  on  more  than  one 
occasion,  proven  its  strength  by  thwarting  the 


222  A   DAUGHTEB    OF    MEXICO 

plans  of  its  enemies '  (American  Freemason, 
Jan.,  1914). 

"  'If  we  must  oppose  Catholicism  let  it  be,  as 
I  have  often  said,  upon  its  principles,  showing 
these  to  be  antagonistic  not  only  to  Freemasonry, 
but  to  the  very  spirit  of  the  age,  and  retarding  the 
progress  upon  which  men  are  bent'  (American 
Freemason,  Dec.,  1914). 

"  *A  few  weeks  ago  I  wrote  a  thoroughly-in 
formed  brother  at  Eome,  asking  for  information 
as  to  Masonic  conditions  in  Italy,  and  especially 
in  the  Eternal  City.  His  reply  is  to  hand,  prom 
ising  an  article  along  the  lines  suggested.  In  the 
letter  he  says:  "I  must  ask,  however,  that  my 
name  shall  not  be  used.  The  Jesuit  organization 
has  its  emissaries  everywhere,  and  they  are  grow 
ing  in  power  and  audacity  here.  It  would  at  once 
be  known  if  I  revealed  the  true  conditions  in 
Rome.  And  not  only  would  I  be  subjected  to 
annoyance,  but  also  injured  in  business  and  other 
wise.  "  Thus  is  shown  the  perfection  of  the  or 
ganization  by  which  Freemasonry  is  antagonized 
throughout  the  world.  The  system  of  espionage 
reaches  into  all  lands,  and  wherever  a  stealthy 
revenge  can  be  inflicted  upon  those  who  thwart  the 
dark  purposes  of  international  Jesuitry,  scruples 
of  any  sort  will  not  be  permitted  to  stand  in  the 
way.  Yet  we  lift  pious  hands  in  horror  because 
our  brothers  of  Europe,  being  sore  beset,  have 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  223 

learned  to  fight  the  devil  with  fire'  (American 
Freemason,  Nov.,  1913). 

"  'Our  Roman  Catholic  friends,  discredited 
now  and  for  long  among  Masons  because  of  the 
vain  ambitions  of  the  hierarchy,  need  go  back  only 
to  the  hidden  mysteries  of  their  Mass  to  find  that 
there  is  the  great,  world-serving  idea,  from  the 
which  in  its  essence  no  man  will  or  can  dissent.  I 
am  accounted  skeptic,  and  worse,  where  orthodoxy 
is  concerned,  but  I  can  and  will  bow  in  real  rev 
erence  when  the  Great  Sacrifice  is  lifted,  for  this 
is  of  the  very  essence  and  meaning  that  finds  other 
expression  in  the  tragedy  of  Freemasonry. 
Therefore  am  I  convinced  that  Templar  Masonry, 
if  so  be  that  its  true  meaning  and  purpose  can  be 
brought  to  the  consciousness  of  brothers  in  the 
symbolic  degrees,  will  give  an  impulse  and  an 
aspiration  for  good  that  can  be  nowhere  else  sup 
plied.  In  the  hotch-potch  of  philosophies,  neither 
digested  nor  understood,  as  offered  by  other  rites, 
there  is  altogether  lacking  the  abiding  and  coher 
ent  and  satisfying  ideals  to  be  found  in  the 
Templar  degrees'  (ibid.). 

"The  true  nature  of  Freemasonry  is  here  re 
vealed.  It  despises  all  dogmatic  belief,  and  all 
religious  rites  save  its  own. 

"Freemasonry  approves  of  the  fearful  crimes 
and  conditions  of  Portugal,  as  the  following  com 
munication,  printed  and  endorsed  by  THE  AMERI 
CAN  FREEMASON,  proves : 


224  A   DAUGHTEE    OF    MEXICO 

"  'From  E.  W.  Brother  Andrade,  Grand  Sec 
retary  General  of  the  Grand  Orient  of  Lusitania 
( Portugal) ,  I  have  received  a  most  interesting  let 
ter,  from  which  the  following  is  extracted : 

«  <  "We  are  certainly  a  small  nation,  but  we 
have  been  among  the  pioneers  of  civilization, 
nevertheless.  Our  people  have  always  fought  on 
the  side  of  freedom,  from  the  very  birth  of  our 
nationality  until  the  present  time.  Since  the  time 
of  Viriato,  struggling  against  the  strength  of  the 
Eoman  Empire,  our  people  have  cherished  the 
sentiments  of  freedom  and  independence,  and 
have  always  been  willing  to  fight  to  retain  their 
rights.  Our  navigators  won  undying  honor  by  the 
discovery  of  new  continents  and  oceans,  and  our 
flag  was  the  first  that  flew  from  the  Tagus  to 
the  Ganges.  We  therefore  ought  to  be  first 
among  the  first  now,  as  in  time  past.  But  our 
patrimony  was  wasted  away  and  destroyed  by  the 
execrated  castes  of  kings  and  priests.  It  is  true 
that  ours  is  but  a  small  country.  But  we  believe 
that  we  have  a  real  future  among  the  nations; 
that  we  have  a  mission  to  fulfill  for  the  good  of 
future  times,  and  that  we  will  yet  take  the  place 
to  which  we  are  entitled  in  the  concert  of  the  peo 
ples.  Our  enemies  are  the  same  as  of  the  past — 
always  the  black  crowd  of  Loyola.  We  know  they 
will  do  their  utmost  to  injure  the  fair  name  of  our 
republic.  But  be  certain,  my  dear  brother,  that 
we  do  not  fear  these.  We  know  of  what  they  are 


A   DAUGHTEE    OF    MEXICO  225 

capable,  nor  do  we  underestimate  their  power  for 
evil. 

"  '  ' '  It  is  to  these  that  we  owe  the  calumnies  and 
lies  that  have  been  spread  broadcast  through  the 
countries  of  the  world.  But  we  can  confidently 
rely  upon  men  of  information  to  discount  and  dis 
prove  their  falsehoods.  Not  long  ago  I  read,  in 
a  Belgian  magazine,  such  palpable  and  glaring 
lies,  told  against  our  people  and  our  government, 
coming  so  plainly  from  our  sworn  enemies,  that  I 
was  astounded.  I  could  hardly  credit  the  fact 
that  in  a  country  so  close  to  our  own,  with  every 
avenue  for  the  truth  open  to  whosoever  would 
seek,  such  infamous  statements  could  reach  pub 
lication,  much  less  find  readers  to  believe  them. 
And  I  am  not  surprised  to  know  that  on  your  side 
of  the  Atlantic  the  same  tactics  are  followed,  with 
more  difficulty  in  your  way  of  ascertaining  the 
exact  truth.  May  I  ask  you,  my  dear  Brother 
Morcombe,  to  say  to  the  Masons  of  America,  and 
to  all  fair-minded  men  and  lovers  of  liberty,  that 
the  craft  in  Portugal  stands  in  the  front  rank  of 
those  who  are  guarding  a  lately-achieved  freedom 
from  the  cowardly  assaults  of  men  who  have 
always  been  the  enemies  of  mental  or  material 
liberty.  Say  to  our  brothers  of  the  United  States 
that  we  will  value  their  sympathy  in  these  our 
hours  of  struggle. "  '  (Feb.,  1914.) 

"Voltairean  railing  blasphemy  emanates  from 


226  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

this    excerpt    from    THE    AMERICAN    FREEMASON 
(April,  1915): 

61  *I  am  willing  to  advise  the  real  inquirer  that 
Freemasonry  does  not  pry  into  the  affairs  of  his 
soul;  does  not  set  up  a  definition  of  the  Unknow 
able  and  ask  that  he  subscribe  thereto ;  has  no  sys 
tem  of  theology  for  the  which  endorsement  is 
asked.  If  the  entrant  into  the  ancient  craft  be 
lieves  in  Mumbo  Jumbo  or  in  Jehovah  it  is  all  one ; 
for  words  are  nothing,  the  central  fact  is  all. 
Whatever  names  the  races  have  given  to  the  sun, 
the  orb  of  the  day  has  remained  unchanged.  So 
if  my  brother  holds  to  the  full  tale  of  dogmatic 
definition,  as  for  him  the  best  and  truest  expres 
sion  of  God,  it  is  none  of  my  affair.  Or  if,  re 
jecting  formula,  he  shall  seek  on  secret  stairways 
of  the  soul  to  climb  into  the  very  effulgence  of 
the  Deity,  surely  I  may  not  say  his  steps  are  vain. 
Nor,  again,  if  with  colder  reasonings  he  will  argue 
the  philosophical,  or  even  the  mathematical  neces 
sity  for  an  overruling  Power,  without  attributes 
as  these  are  understood  of  humanity,  unmoral 
and  unswerving,  still  I  am  without  cause  of  com 
plaint.  Nor  shall  he  be  denied  fellowship  of  mine 
if  to  his  mind  the  full  sweep  of  universal  life  is 
needed  to  make  the  sum  and  substance  of  his  God. 
I  think,  sometimes,  that  as  blind  men  taking  stock 
of  a  strange  animal,  we  each  put  out  faltering 
hand  here  or  there,  and  from  such  impressions 
declare  that  the  Beyond  and  the  Unknown  is  as 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  227 

the  trivial  detail  appears  to  our  imperfect  sense. 
And,  despite  some  of  my  more  orthodox  friends 
and  brothers,  I  do  not  conceive  that  Freemasonry 
concerns  itself,  in  little  or  in  great,  with  such  defi 
nitions.  The  real  atheist  never  yet  existed,  and 
our  fraternity  bars  only  the  atheist. ' 

"  '  Another  institution  also  claims  to  be  builded 
upon  a  rock,  and  boasts  that  "not  even  the  gates 
of  hell  shall  prevail  against  it. ' '  Whether  or  not 
it  has  sustained  such  supreme  test  we  are  not  in 
formed.  But  we  do  know  that  as  a  foundation, 
it  has  not  always  been  safe  and  sure.  It  has  suf 
fered  much  from  the  attrition  of  the  ages,  and  has 
been  daubed  at  and  plastered  upon,  and  otherwise 
protected  and  strengthened  until  not  even  the  al 
leged  founder  of  the  institution  would  be  able  to 
recognize  the  site,  much  less  the  rock  itself.  And 
in  times  of  stress  and  storm  it  has  proven,  after 
all,  a  rather  wobbly  foundation.  One  may  notice, 
also,  if  observant,  that  those  who  discourse  most 
volubly  on  Truth,  whether  as  being  of  the  founda 
tion  or  the  superstructure  of  any  institution,  are 
the  very  persons  whose  conception  of  Truth  is  de 
rived  from  what  they  have  been  told,  rather  than 
from  any  knowledge  searched  out  for  themselves. 
They  rely  on  tradition,  or  alleged  revelation,  or 
the  authority  of  some  man,  dead  or  alive,  as  the 
chief  support  of  their  assurance.  The  dili 
gent  seeker  after  Truth,  as  this  may  be 
expressed  in  the  great  universe  of  God, 


228  A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

walks  humbly.  He  is  aware  that  the  many 
shortcomings  and  imperfect  vision  of  hu 
manity  will  allow  no  more  than  partial  and  woe 
fully  distorted  glimpses  of  the  great  good  he  seeks. 
To  accept,  on  any  authority,  a  definition  of  Abso 
lute  Truth,  or  even  to  allow  that  this  can  be  de 
fined,  is  to  stultify  one's  self.  Such  acceptance 
is  weakening  in  the  extreme,  in  that  it  deprives 
the  mind  of  the  exertion  essential  for  develop 
ment.  Nor  should  it  be  forgotten  that  Truth,  as 
it  comes  within  the  perception  and  understanding 
of  men,  is  a  merely  relative  term.  Being  matter 
of  necessarily  imperfect  definition,  it  is  subject 
to  change ;  indeed,  must  constantly  change  to  keep 
pace  with  our  increasing  knowledge  of  the  uni 
verse.  And  this,  whether  we  are  concerned  with 
morals,  or  spirituality,  or  with  things  material. 
It  is,  therefore,  safe  to  dismiss,  as  idle  rhetoric 
or  loose  talk,  all  these  flourishes  as  to  "  immutable 
foundations  of  Truth"  '  (The  American  Free 
mason,  April,  1916). 

"If  the  dogmas  of  faith,  which  the  Catholic 
Church  promulgates  as  *  absolute  truth,'  were 
merely  conclusions  from  human  reasoning,  there 
might  be  some  reason  in  what  this  Freemason 
writes.  But  it  is  surely  stupid  to  say  that  the 
omniscient  God  cannot  deliver  an  infallible  mes 
sage  to  His  creature.  By  just  such  sophistry  as 
this,  which  appeals  to  human  pride,  Freemasonry 
holds  its  power. 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  229 

"In  its  issue  of  July,  1913,  The  American  Free 
mason  quotes  at  length  from  the  apostate 
Baroness  von  Zedwitz's  book,  'The  Double  Doc 
trine  of  the  Church  of  Rome.' 

"That  you  may  know  that  Freemasonry  is  di 
rectly  opposed  to  Catholicity,  I  beg  to  quote  the 
following  passage  from  The  American  Freemason, 
August,  1913 :  '  Some  years  ago  this  writer  made 
attempt  to  give  a  clear  and  complete  statement 
as  to  the  hostility  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church 
against  the  Masonic  fraternity.  The  method 
adopted,  to  minimize  any  chance  of  prejudice,  was 
to  seek  out  the  documents  promulgated  by  the 
Papacy,  condemnatory  of  the  organization.  For 
the  proper  understanding  of  these,  the  background 
of  history  was  supplied,  upon  which  was  sketched 
the  activities  both  of  church  and  fraternity,  and 
the  relation  of  these  to  the  larger  affairs  of  the 
world.  The  effort  was  honestly  made,  and  per 
haps  with  some  success,  to  give  a  fairly  exhaustive 
account  of  the  strife  promoted  by  the  Holy  See, 
to  crush  out  an  institution  recognized  from  its 
earliest  years  as  being  inherently  and  irrepres- 
sibly  antagonistic  to  the  claims  and  influence  of 
Catholicism. 7 

"This  statement  has,  at  least,  the  merit  of  be 
ing  honest  in  declaring  the  animus  of  Free 
masonry. 

"In  the  year  1913  the  Hungarian  deputy,  Karl 


230  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

Huszar,  published  a  series  of  articles  touching  on 
Freemasonic  activities  in  Hungary. 

"  *  These  revelations  show  that  the  lodges  are 
working  with  all  their  strength  for  the  overthrow 
of  the  monarchy  and  of  the  Christian  Church.  A 
Masonic  daily  paper  has  been  founded,  actually 
with  a  government  subsidy.  It  is  known  as  Bilag 
— the  World.  The  lodges  have  formed  a  political 
society,  which  they  call  a  club,  and  in  which  are 
gathered  the  Masonic  deputies,  the  Monist  writers 
and  journalists,  and  from  this  emanate  such  sug 
gestions  as  that  recently  put  forward  for  the 
secularization  of  the  property  of  the  Church.  The 
machinations  of  these  men  have  already  obtained 
the  resignation  of  Baron  Bartoczy  from  the  di 
rection  of  that  section  of  the  Ministry  of  Public 
Worship  office  which  deals  with  the  middle  schools. 
The  baron  is  the  protector  of  the  Marist  Con 
gregations  in  Hungary,  and  has  often  proved  his 
noble  Catholic  spirit.  The  Reform  Club  has  en 
deavored  to  obtain  the  banishment  of  the  Marist 
brothers  from  the  schools,  but  the  vigilance  of 
the  Catholic  deputies  in  the  Diet  has  defeated  this 
object.  All  the  trouble  which  is  continually  aris 
ing  in  thfe  stormy  kingdom  may  be  traced  to  the 
Masons.  Their  latest  cry  under  the  Republican 
banner  is  "Down  with  Clericalism,  Feudalism  and 
Militarism,"  which  they  call  the  cancers  of  prog 
ress.  They  desire  to  cure  the  nation  by  banish 
ing  the  religious  orders  from  the  schools  and  col- 


A   DAUGHTER    OP    MEXICO  231 

leges,  and  the  bishops  and  prelates  from  the 
houses  of  the  aristocracy.  They  desire  that 
priests  may  be  excluded  from  taking  office  as  depu 
ties,  or  contributing  to  newspapers  as  journalists. 
The  conclusion  drawn  by  the  Deputy  Huszar  from 
present  conditions  is  that  Hungary  is  on  the 
verge  of  a  new  Kulturkampf .  It  will  begin  with 
the  schools,  and  the  fight  will  be  a  big  one,  since 
there  are  in  Hungary  only  3,000  interconfessional 
state  schools  as  against  12,075  confessional 
schools.  Of  these  latter  7,000  are  Catholic,  3,000 
belong  to  the  Protestants,  430  to  Jews,  and  1,457 
are  Orthodox  Greek.  The  Masons  plead  to  have 
all  these  schools  "mixed,"  of  which  there  are 
1,000  only  at  present.  Such  a  decision  would  nat 
urally  eventually  destroy  the  religious  character 
of  all  schools,  and  that  is  just  what  is  wanted. 
Already  the  Catholics  are  arranging  to  fight  this 
design,  and  organizations  of  parents  are  being 
formed  in  the  various  districts  affected.' 

"The  substitution  of  humanitarianism  for  su 
pernatural  faith  is  clearly  avowed  as  the  essence 
of  Freemasonry  in  an  article  by  Paul  Carus  in 
the  Open  Court  (Chicago)  for  June,  1914: 

"  'In  striking  contrast  to  the  Masonic  concep 
tions  and  aspirations  stand  those  who  regard  the 
humanitarian  ideal  as  a  gross  error,  maintaining 
that  human  nature  does  not  possess  any  moral 
aptitude,  that  man  can  be  saved  only  by  an  undis- 
criminating  submission  under  a  definite  doctrinal 
system  of  sin  and  destruction.  With  this  hostile 


232  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

opinion  is  often  united  the  conviction  that  those  of 
another  faith — infidels  and  heretics  who  do  not 
recognize  a  definite  doctrinal  system — are  morally 
of  little  value,  that  the  spread  of  their  teaching 
ought  not  to  be  permitted,  and  that  believers 
should  be  separated  from  them  as  rigorously  as 
possible  and  that  the  contrast  be  sharply  em 
phasized.  Advocates  of  these  views,  representa 
tives  of  intolerance  and  exclusion  who  work  in 
opposition  to  freedom  of  spirit,  to  humanitarian 
fraternization  and  the  independent  development 
of  national  morality,  have  fought  against  Free 
masonry  from  the  beginning  with  the  sharpest 
weapons,  and  have  purposely  brought  it  into  the 
repute  of  the  most  destructive  devil  worship  in 
the  minds  of  many  of  their  followers,  a  tendency 
which  has  produced  the  most  ridiculous  fictions/ 

"In  1906  a  general  congress  of  Latin- Ameri 
can  Freemasonry  was  held  at  Buenos  Ayres. 
The  following  platform  was  approved: 

"  '5.  Latin- American  Masonry  shall  combat 
by  every  means  in  its  power  the  clerical  propa 
ganda  and  the  establishment  and  development  of 
religious  congregations,  combining  efforts  to  se 
cure  their  expulsion  from  these  countries.  To 
effect  this:  (a)  Freemasons  shall  not  have  their 
children  educated  in  colleges  managed  by  religious 
bodies,  (b)  Freemasons  shall  use  their  influence 
to  dissuade  their  wives  and  prohibit  their  chil- 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  233 

dren  from  going  to  confession  to  a  priest.  (c) 
Freemasons  shall  not  contribute  in  any  way  to  the 
support  of  the  religious  bodies  and  their  chapels. 

"  '6.  Freemasons  shall  strive  to  enlist  mem 
bers  of  political  parties  who  may  defend  their 
ideals  and  undertake  to  vote  for  the  separation  of 
Church  and  State,  the  expulsion  of  the  religious 
congregations,  civil  inquiry,  civil  marriage  and 
divorce,  purely  secular  education,  lay  nurses  in 
the  hospitals,  the  suppression  of  the  military 
chaplains,  and  other  clerical  laws. 

i '  '  7.  Every  Mason  shall  be  bound  to  act  in  the 
profane  world  in  accordance  with  the  principles 
of  Freemasonry;  those  who  violate  this  code  of 
honor  being  liable  to  the  most  severe  penalties  of 
the  Masonic  law. 

"  '10.  Freemasonry  shall  strive  to  secure  the 
withdrawal  from  the  Vatican  of  the  representa 
tives  of  governments,  these  not  acknowledging  the 
Papacy  as  an  international  power. ' 

"Lest  one  might  think  that  this  was  a  local  po 
litical  strife  confined  to  those  countries,  let  us 
see  how  THE  AMERICAN  FREEMASON  views  the 
movement : 

"  l  Accepting  the  foregoing  program  of  South 
American  Masons  as  being  correct,  and  bearing  in 
mind  the  proven  facts  of  church  activities  and  in 
fluence  in  the  countries  concerned,  one  is  not  dis 
posed  to  severely  criticise  the  brothers  who  have 
thus  openly  challenged  ecclesiasticism.  Surely 


234  A   DAUGHTER    OP    MEXICO 

the  church  men  are  not  so  fatuous  as  to  believe 
they  can  for  generations  constantly  attack  and 
persecute  men  of  any  institution  without  a  show 
of  hostility  on  part  of  those  assailed.  In  the 
South  American  countries,  wherever  the  priests 
have  had  power  Freemasonry  has  been  proscribed, 
and  its  membership  subjected  to  political  and  so 
cial  disabilities,  even  where  more  active  persecu 
tion  was  not  possible.  The  program  given  con 
tains  nothing  that  might  not  be  endorsed  by  any 
set  of  brothers  put  on  the  fighting  line,  and  forced 
to  struggle  for  existence'  (American  Freemason, 
Jan.,  1915). 

"Beginning  in  the  January  number  of  the  year 
1915,  E.  J.  Lemert,  an  accredited  lecturer,  pub 
lished  in  the  American  Freemason  an  article  un 
der  the  heading,  *  Causes  of  the  Crusade.'  In 
this  article  he  runs  amuck,  and  while  admitting 
that  he  speaks  contrary  to  '  almost  every  his 
torian,'  he  pours  upon  the  Papacy  and  all  the  in 
stitutions  of  the  Church  a  flood  of  coarse,  ven 
omous  abuse,  which  dishonors  the  pages  of  any 
publication.  He  even  accuses  the  immortal  Hilde- 
brand  of  simony  and  immorality. 

"It  is  not  worth  our  time  to  refute  these  base 
less  calumnies :  we  adduce  them  here  to  show  the 
spirit  of  Freemasonry. 

"Freemasonry  was  first  condemned  by  the 
Catholic  Church  in  the  constitution  of  Clement 
XII.,  'In  Eminenti,'  promulgated  April  28,  1738. 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  235 

"The  sect  was  subsequently  condemned  by 
Benedict  XIV.  (May  18,  1751),  Pius  VII.  (Sept. 
13,  1821),  Leo  XII.  (March  13,  1825),  Pius  VIII. 
(May  21,  1829),  Greg.  XVI.  (Aug.  15,  1832), 
Pius  IX.  (Nov.  9,  1846;  April  20,  1849;  Dec.  8, 
1864;  Sept.  25, 1865;  Oct.  12,  1869;  Nov.  21, 1873), 
Leo  XIII.  (April  20,  1884;  June  20,  1894;  March 
18,  1902;  Feb.  15,  1882;  Oct.  15,  1890). 

"These  repeated  condemnations  are  in  perfect 
accord,  and  serve  to  keep  vividly  in  the  minds  of 
Catholics  the  nature  of  Freemasonry  and  its 
varied  activities. 

i  i  The  reasons  set  forth  by  Clement  XII.  for  the 
condemnation  of  Freemasonry  are:  (1)  The  pe 
culiar  'unsectarian'  character  of  the  society,  which 
is  in  reality  a  naturalistic  character  which  under 
mines  Catholic  faith  and  creates  in  society  indif- 
ferentism  and  contempt  for  orthodoxy  and  re 
ligious  authority.  (2)  The  inscrutable  secrecy  of 
the  society  by  which  it  is  able  to  propagate  its 
errors.  (3)  The  oath  of  secrecy  and  fidelity  to 
Masonry  which  cannot  be  justified  for  any  ritual 
istic  or  doctrinal  reason;  for  these  are  mere  trifles 
or  no  longer  exist.  Hence,  the  oath  must  con 
template  some  religious  or  political  plot.  The 
oath  therefore  is  for  a  wicked  purpose,  or  vain, 
and  therefore  unnecessary  and  sacrilegious.  This 
oath  imposes  no  obligation  in  conscience.  (4) 
There  is  always  immanent  in  such  societies  a  dan 
gerous  tendency  to  subvert  the  tranquility  of  the 


236  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

state  and  to  corrupt  the  spiritual  life  of  the  souls 
of  men. 

*  *  In  all  this  review  of  Masonry  we  see  two  main 
characteristics  which  bring  it  into  opposition  to 
the  Catholic  Church.  Freemasonry  substitutes 
for  revealed  religion  positivistic  naturalism,  and 
consequently  indifferentism,  and  conspires  against 
lawful  governments  which  are  not  organized  on 
Freemason  principles. 

"Leo  XIII.  (1884)  declares:  i There  are  va 
rious  sects  which,  although  differing  in  name,  rite, 
form  and  origin,  are  nevertheless  so  united  by 
community  of  purposes  and  by  similarity  of  their 
main  principles  as  to  be  really  one  with  the  Ma 
sonic  sect,  which  is  a  kind  of  center,  whence  all 
proceed  and  whither  they  all  return/  The  ulti 
mate  purpose  of  Freemasonry  is  'the  overthrow 
of  the  whole  religious,  political  and  social  order, 
based  on  Christian  institutions,  and  the  establish 
ment  of  a  new  state  of  things  according  to  their 
own  ideas,  and  based  in  its  principles  and  laws  on 
pure  naturalism.'  This  explains  why  the  Odd 
Fellows,  Good  Templars  and  Knights  of  Pythias 
are  under  the  ban  of  the  Catholic  Church. 

"  Since  1738  Catholics  may  not  belong  to  the 
Freemasons  under  pain  of  excommunication  ipso 
facto  reserved  to  the  Pope. 

"The  attitude  of  the  Catholic  Church  towards 
Freemasonry  contemplates  the  essential  character 
of  the  sect,  its  principles,  methods  and  aims.  It 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  237 

does  not  declare  that  every  Freemason  has  these 
evil  characteristics ;  but  on  account  of  the  evil  na 
ture  of  the  organization,  the  Church  opposes  it 
and  warns  men  against  its  dangers. 

"One  of  the  deceptions  of  Freemasonry  is  the 
pretension  that  its  secrecy  guards  something  of 
importance.  Except  where  some  lodge  or  lodges 
are  plotting  against  Church  or  State,  their  secrets 
are  mere  trifles.  Even  their  secret  method  of 
recognition  has  been  divulged  by  publication.  It 
is  remarkable,  therefore,  that  they  have  been  able 
to  preserve  in  the  minds  of  men  the  belief  that 
there  is  some  deep,  important  secret  in  Masonry. 
Some  of  the  methods  that  they  have  employed  to 
protect  their  secrets  are  far  from  commendable, 
as  the  following  incident  will  show : 

"In  1821  William  Morgan,  a  brewer  of  York, 
Upper  Canada,  came  to  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  and  was 
there  employed  as  a  stonemason.  He  had  creden 
tials  from  the  Masonic  Lodge  in  Canada,  and  on 
the  strength  of  these  he  was  made  a  Royal  Arch 
Mason  at  Le  Roy,  N.  Y.,  May  31, 1823.  Becoming 
offended  at  some  act  of  the  lodge,  he  entered  into 
a  scheme  with  David  C.  Miller,  editor  of  the  Re 
publican  Advocate  of  Batavia,  N.  Y.,  to  publish 
the  secrets  of  Freemasonry. 

"It  is  generally  believed  that  Miller  was  a  low 
degree  Mason. 

"The  Masons  were  thoroughly  aroused  by  the 
threatened  publication.  They  made  various  rep- 


238  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

resentations  to  Morgan  to  abandon  his  scheme. 
They  failed. 

"Miller's  office  was  set  on  fire  in  September, 
1823,  but  the  fire  was  extinguished  before  much 
damage  was  done.  The  incendiary  was  not  ap 
prehended. 

"Soon  after  Morgan  was  lodged  in  jail  in  Can- 
andaigua  for  a  debt  on  which  he  had  confessed 
judgment. 

"It  seems  that  Morgan's  debt  was  paid  by  some 
unknown  person,  and  Morgan  was  released  from 
jail.  As  he  left  the  jail  he  was  seized  by  Loton 
Lawson,  a  Freemason,  and  another  man.  Mor 
gan  shouted  ' murder,'  but  no  one  came  to  his 
assistance.  Fear  of  the  Freemasons  or  complic 
ity  in  the  crime  held  men  back. 

"Among  those  who  were  spectators  of  the  act 
of  violence  were  Nicholas  Gr.  Cheseboro  and  Ed 
ward  Sawyer,  Masons. 

"Morgan  was  placed  in  a  carriage  and  driven 
towards  Rochester.  The  carriage  containing 
Morgan  and  his  abductors  reached  Rochester  at 
daybreak.  Fearing  publicity,  the  principals  in 
the  plot  drove  three  miles  west  of  Rochester  and 
there  dismissed  the  carriage. 

"At  this  point  a  deep  veil  of  mystery  shrouds 
the  event.  Some  claim  that  Morgan  accepted  a 
bribe  and  left  the  country,  but  this  is  now  quite 
generally  rejected. 

"Morgan's  wife  was  greatly  distressed  by  the 


A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO  239 

abduction.  It  soon  became  known,  and  a  wave  of 
popular  indignation  swept  over  the  country.  The 
Governor,  De  Witt  Clinton,  though  a  prominent 
Mason,  was  compelled  to  issue  a  proclamation  of 
fering  a  reward  for  the  apprehension  of  the  ab 
ductors. 

"Whether  or  not  the  Governor  were  sincere  in 
this  proclamation  cannot  be  known  by  mortal  man. 

"The  investigation  revealed  that  when  Mor 
gan's  abductors  left  the  carriage  three  miles  out 
of  Rochester  they  entered  another  vehicle,  and 
journeyed  westward  to  Fort  Niagara.  In  a  por 
tion  of  the  journey  Sheriff  Bruce  accompanied 
them.  The  conspirators  reached  the  vicinity  of 
the  fort  on  the  morning  following  their  departure 
from  Rochester.  They  dismissed  the  carriage, 
and  made  their  way  to  the  fort  on  foot.  Beyond 
that  point  no  trace  of  William  Morgan  has  ever 
been  discovered.  Edward  S.  Ellis,  A.  M.,  Past 
Master  of  Trenton  (N.  J.)  Lodge  No.  5,  relates 
it  as  the  expressed  belief  of  his  father,  who  knew 
Morgan  and  his  abductors,  that  Morgan  was  flung 
over  Niagara  Falls. 

"In  a  letter  published  September  9, 1882,  Thur- 
low  Weed,  the  famous  politician  of  Albany,  N.  Y., 
declared  that  John  Whitney  confessed  to  him  at 
his  house  in  1831  that  he  (Whitney)  and  four 
others,  whom  Whitney  named,  visited  Morgan, 
who  was  confined  in  Fort  Niagara.  They  told  him 
that  he  was  to  be  supplied  with  money  and  sent 


240  A   DAUGHTEE    OF    MEXICO 

to  Canada,  where  his  family  would  be  sent  to  join 
him.  Morgan  consented  and  entered  a  boat  with 
them,  which  was  rowed  out  into  the  river.  A  rope 
was  bound  about  Morgan 's  body,  and  to  both  ends 
of  this  rope  sinkers  were  attached.  Morgan  was 
then  cast  overboard. 

"Weed  felt  bound  in  conscience  to  keep  this 
secret. 

"In  1860  Weed  was  a  member  of  the  National 
Republican  Convention  in  Chicago.  There  Whit 
ney,  probably  burdened  by  the  consciousness  of 
blood-guiltiness,  called  on  Weed  and  asked  him 
to  take  Whitney's  deposition  touching  Morgan's 
death,  have  it  witnessed,  and  keep  it  to  be  pub 
lished  after  Whitney's  death. 

"In  the  excitement  attending  that  memorable 
convention,  Weed  neglected  to  fulfill  Whitney's 
request.  Weed  went  to  London,  and  from  there 
endeavored  to  have  Whitney,  through  Alexander 
B.  Williams,  make  his  statement,  but  it  was  never 
done.  Whitney  died  in  1869. 

*  '  There  is  a  statement,  which  it  is  claimed  Whit 
ney  made,  which,  by  his  request,  was  not  published 
until  after  his  death.  In  this  statement  Whitney 
admits  that  he,  Sheriff  Bruce  and  Colonel  William 
King  abducted  Morgan  and  sent  him  into  Canada. 
This  document  is  evidently  a  Masonic  forgery,  de 
vised  to  calm  the  indignation  excited  by  the  ter 
rible  crime.  Inasmuch  as  Whitney  was  dead, 
there  was  no  way  to  detect  the  forgery.  It  is  in 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  241 

direct  contradiction  to  Weed's  statement.  Weed 
at  that  time  had  no  motive  to  invent  such  a  stu 
pendous  falsehood ;  the  Freemasons  had  a  mighty 
motive:  the  anti-Masonic  party  were  becoming 
very  powerful  under  such  leaders  as  William  H. 
Seward,  Millard  Fillmore,  William  Wirt,  John 
Quincy  Adams  and  Thurlow  Weed. 

"The  spurious  statement,  purporting  to  be  of 
John  Whitney,  bears  on  it  a  request  that  it  be  not 
published  until  after  Whitney's  death,  and  not 
then  unless  an  attack  be  made  on  Masonry.  This 
would  indicate  that  the  welfare  of  Masonry  was 
contemplated  by  Whitney.  Therefore  why  should 
he  defer  till  after  his  death  the  publication  which 
cleared  his  craft  of  the  foul  crime  of  murder,  and 
set  forth  the  event  in  its  most  favorable  possible 
point  of  view!  On  the  contrary,  there  was  a 
strong  reason  on  the  part  of  the  Freemasons  for 
delaying  the  forgery,  that  Whitney,  being  dead, 
might  not  expose  the  imposture.  If  Morgan  and 
his  family  were  deported  to  Canada,  as  it  is  al 
leged,  it  is  scarcely  possible  that  in  the  nation 
wide  agitation  which  ensued  he  should  not  have 
been  traced.  The  Freemason  Ellis,  before  cited, 
when  he  deals  with  this  argument  in  '  Low  Twelve, ' 
virtually  admits  the  murder  of  Morgan.  'In 
truth/  he  says,  'he  was  and  had  been  dead  for  a 
good  while.' 

"There  is  something  Satanic  in  the  principles, 
methods,  spirit  and  success  of  Freemasonry.  It 


242  A   DAUGHTEK    OF    MEXICO 

is  the  incarnation  of  the  *  spirit  of  the  world,' 
which  has  always  hated  Christ  and  His  Cause. ' ' 

As  the  chaplain  concluded  his  long  conference, 
he  looked  with  great  earnestness  into  Wilding's 
eyes,  and  said :  "I  feel  a  premonition  that  I  am 
soon  to  die.  I  have  been  as  accurate  as  circum 
stances  permit  in  giving  you  this  summary  of 
Freemasonry.  Though  you  are  a  member  of  its 
body,  I  feel  that  you  have  never  been  a  member 
of  its  spirit.  I  have  addressed  you  as  one  not 
informed  of  the  real  nature  of  Freemasonry. 
Whatever  weight  my  words  may  have,  they  surely 
are  my  soul 's  conviction,  as  I  stand  in  the  shadow 
of  death.  If  they  are  accepted  by  you,  I  should 
feel  happier  in  dying  if  I  could  know  that  through 
you  they  might  be  transmitted  to  others.  The 
historical  data  which  I  have  adduced  I  shall  gladly 
deliver  to  you,  if  you  will  accept  them ;  for  I  feel 
that  my  course  is  run. ' ' 

"I  seem  to  have  lived  years  during  your  re 
markable  discourse,"  answered  Wilding.  "I  am 
a  changed  man.  What  shall  I  do  1 " 

"I  can  only  answer  in  the  words  of  St.  Peter: 
'  Eepent,  and  be  baptized. '  ' ' 

"I  am  ready,"  answered  Wilding,  "but  in  a 
thing  of  such  supreme  importance,  I  should  like 
to  prepare  myself  a  little  better;  I  should  like  to 
make  more  intimately  mine  the  vital  truths  which 
you  have  delivered  to  me.  As  far  as  I  can  be  sure 
of  my  mental  attitude,  it  seems  that  I  believe  with 


A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  243 

a  firm  faith  in  the  saving  truths  delivered  by  God 
through  the  Catholic  Church.  I  renounce  Ma 
sonry,  and  all  its  kindred  sects,  and  I  repent  with 
all  my  soul  of  the  sins  that  I  have  committed. 
And  now,  Father,  in  what  state  am  I  in  case  death 
should  overtake  me  before  my  baptism? " 

"Accepting  as  I  do  that  your  profession  of  faith 
is  genuine,  you  are  a  catechumen,  and  as  such 
you  are  in  the  way  of  salvation,  but  the  obliga 
tion  of  baptism  is  binding,  and  should  be  fulfilled 
as  soon  as  possible/' 

"Shall  we  say,  after  three  days?"  said  Wilding. 
"I  shall  spend  that  time  in  preparation,  and  in 
transmitting  to  posterity  your  explanation  of 
Freemasonry. ' ' 

' '  Let  us  set  the  day  you  name  for  your  baptism, 
and  be  assured  of  my  prayers." 

"I  could  be  happy  now,"  said  Wilding,  "were 
it  not  for  your  presentiment  of  impending  evil." 

' '  God 's  will  be  done, ' '  answered  the  chaplain. 

He  blessed  them,  and  they  departed. 

Miriam  and  Inez  walked  arm  in  arm;  Wilding 
followed  a  couple  of  paces  behind  them. 

An  interval  of  silence  ensued  as  they  departed 
from  the  chaplain. 

Wilding  was  the  first  to  break  this  silence. 
"Seiiorita  Inez,"  he  said,  "I  forgot  to  ask  the 
reverend  chaplain  a  question  that  is  much  in  my 
mind.  Do  you  believe  that  you  could  answer  it?" 

"It  would  be  great  presumption  in  me,"  an- 


244  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

swered  Inez,  "to  assume  the  role  of  a  theologian. 
I  am  sure  the  question  must  be  very  deep  to  baffle 
your  noble  mind. ' ' 

"Every  word  you  utter,  every  moment  of  your 
presence,  every  thought  of  you  makes  me  more 
anxious  to  know  the  answer  of  my  question.  It 
is  this :  Do  the  nobler  forms  of  love,  such  as  the 
love  of  kindred,  the  love  of  friends,  the  pure  love 
of  lovers  endure  teyond  the  grave  and  induce  a 
special  relation  in  Heaven  V9 

"Seiior,"  answered  Inez,  "the  question  you  ask 
involves  a  truth  on  which,  as  far  as  I  know,  there 
is  no  clear  revelation.  We  must  therefore  be  con 
tent  with  the  certitude  of  the  conclusions  which 
we  may  logically  draw  from  other  certain  truths. 

"God  allows  a  certain  veil  of  mystery  to  shroud 
the  nature  of  our  life  in  Heaven.  If  our  trust  be 
what  it  ought  to  be  we  shall  be  content  with  His 
promise  that  we  shall  be  perfectly  happy ;  and  we 
shall  leave  to  God  to  establish  the  nature  of  our 
life  with  Him.  Without  doubt,  it  is  to  develop 
this  perfect  faith  in  Him  that  God  gives  us  only 
the  dim  view  of  the  great  beyond  here.  In  child 
hood,  when  our  dear  parents  promised  us  some 
present,  and  left  us  with  the  assurance  that  it 
should  be  something  which  should  please  us,  with 
out  stating  the  exact  nature  of  the  gift,  we  were 
happy  in  the  anticipation,  and  the  uncertainty  of 
the  nature  of  the  coming  gift  heightened  the 
pleasure.  We  did  not  want  to  know  more;  we 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  245 

trusted  the  love  of  our  parents;  we  wished  a  joy 
ful  surprise.  Shall  we  show  less  trust  in  Almighty 
God?  He  has  promised  us  complete  happiness, 
happiness  of  soul  and  happiness  of  glorified  body. 
He  has  promised  to  make  us  like  Himself,  to  make 
our  bodies  like  the  glorified  body  of  Christ;  He 
has  told  us  that  the  finite  mind  of  man  cannot  con 
ceive  an  idea  of  the  surpassing  happiness  of 
Heaven.  Therefore  everything  requisite  for  our 
happiness  must  be  present  in  Heaven.  The  pass 
ing  into  Heaven  does  not  wreck  our  nature,  but 
perfects  it. 

"Now  we  must  also  know  that  every  one  in 
Heaven  loves  every  one  else  in  Heaven  with  a  love 
that  surpasses  knowledge.  No  human  love,  the 
purest  and  greatest  that  ever  existed  on  earth,  can 
be  compared  to  that  universal  love  among  all  the 
citizens  of  Heaven.  Therefore  if  you  have  ever 
loved  a  being  whose  name  is  written  in  the  Book 
of  Life;  and  if,  as  we  believe  and  hope,  you  also 
shall  be  of  Christ 's  elect,  you  shall  love  that  being 
for  all  eternity,  and  be  loved  in  turn  by  that  being 
in  a  degree  far  surpassing  human  comprehension. 

"But  whether  that  universal  love  in  Heaven 
obliterates  those  special  relationships  which 
existed  in  mortal  life;  or,  rather,  whether  it  sub 
limates  them  into  that  universal  act  of  love  by 
which  all  the  elect  of  God  are  loved  with  ecstatic 
love,  is  open  to  discussion.  This  discussion  may 
be  likened  to  those  pleasing  guesses  which  we  in- 


246  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

dulged  in  in  our  childhood,  endeavoring  to  guess 
what  the  present  our  parents  promised  us 
should  be. 

"If  that  human  relationship  which  God  or 
dained  and  blessed  in  mortal  life  be  in  any  way 
conducive  to  our  happiness  in  Heaven,  it  shall  be 
there,  being  purified  and  perfected  in  the  process 
by  which  our  whole  natures  are  made  like  to 
Christ.  I  see  nothing  incongruous  in  the  thought 
that  by  the  effect  of  the  Divinity  upon  our  glori 
fied  natures  our  love  should  become  so  like  to 
God's  love  in  its  universality  that  we  should  love 
all  the  citizens  of  Heaven  with  a  love  surpassingly 
intense  for  all,  but  graded  according  to  the  degree 
of  merit  and  corresponding  glory  of  the  saints. " 

The  company  had  stopped  during  this  earnest 
conversation  at  the  point  close  by  the  gate  of  the 
convent  where  the  maidens  were  lodged.  The 
hour  for  closing  the  convent  gates  was  at  hand. 
Harold  Wilding  advanced  a  step,  and  trembling 
with  great  emotion,  said:  "Senorita  Inez,  as  I 
stand  in  the  presence  of  the  Living  God,  I  love 
you,  and  I  wish  you  to  be  mine  here  and  in  Heaven. 
I  could  not  conceive  of  a  state  of  happiness  with 
out  your  presence.  Through  you  I  have  found  the 
truth;  you  are  more  necessary  to  my  life  than 
the  air  I  breathe;  I  cannot  think  without  you;  I 
cannot  live  without  you;  O,  can  you  understand 
my  love!  Did  not  hope  fill  my  soul,  my  love  of 
you  would  kill  me.  Sometimes  reflecting  upon 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  247 

my  unwortkiness,  I  have  pictured  myself  deprived 
of  you.  Gasping,  I  turned  from  the  thought  lest  I 
should  go  mad.  I  could  bear  the  separation  if 
God  Should  take  you  to  Heaven,  provided  that  be 
fore  you  went  you  gave  me  your  love.  Evil  days 
are  fallen  on  this  land;  we  know  not  what  awaits 
us ;  say  that  word.  There  is  nothing  of  the  earth 
ly  character  in  my  love :  for  me  you  are  an  angel ; 
every  thought  of  you  inspires  in  me  noble  pur 
poses;  with  you  I  shall  defy  all  things  created  to 
separate  me  from  the  service  of  Christ.  0, 
Senorita,  I  have  removed  the  great  barrier;  I  be 
lieve  with  an  intense  faith.  In  His  mysterious 
providence  God  has  filled  my  soul  with  faith ;  I  am 
indifferent  to  the  goods  of  this  world;  with  you 
I  wish  to  dedicate  my  life  to  God." 

A  moment  of  silence  followed.  Inez  was  weep 
ing.  She  clung  to  Miriam  and  pressed  her  tear- 
stained  face  against  Miriam's  cheek.  She  was 
torn  by  conflicting  emotions.  She  had  loved  Wild 
ing  without  realizing  how  great  was  her  love. 
His  passionate  pleading,  the  unworldliness  of  his 
love  brought  her  to  a  realization  of  the  intensity 
of  her  own  love.  And  yet  it  seemed  that  this  love 
invaded  that  sacred  relation  that  bound  her  to 
Miriam.  The  thought  of  being  separated  from 
Miriam,  or  of  loving  her  less,  poured  a  flood  of 
grief  into  her  soul. 

Miriam  had  always  understood  Inez;  she  un 
derstood  her  now.  Kissing  away  her  tears, 


248  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

Miriam  drew  her  still  closer  to  herself  and  said : 
"Inez,  nothing  can  ever  come  between  us;  you 
shall  ever  be  what  you  have  been  to  me,  my  other 
self.  That  which  is  offered  you  now  is  not  a  rival 
to  my  love  of  you ;  my  great  love  of  you  welcomes 
the  protection  offered  you  by  this  noble  man ;  what 
is  the  answer  which  your  soul  truly  dictates  to  his 
pleading  ?" 

For  answer  Inez,  still  clinging  to  Miriam  with 
her  left  hand,  extended  her  right  hand  to  Wilding 
and  turned  her  tender  eyes  upon  him. 

Instantly  he  fell  on  his  knees  and  bowed  his 
head,  reverently  kissing  the  extended  hand,  which 
he  held  gently  but  firmly.  Then  raising  his  eyes 
to  Heaven,  he  cried:  "Now,  0  God,  take  from 
me  everything  else ;  Thou  hast  made  me  rich ;  take 
from  me  my  life,  but  do  not  take  from  me  the  love 
of  Thy  angel;  I  will  serve  Thee  better  with  her; 
let  us  live  before  Thee  hand  in  hand,  whether  in 
mortal  life  or  in  Thy  kingdom ;  if  sufferings  must 
come,  let  them  fall  on  me,  but  spare  her;  0  God, 
help  me  to  be  worthy  of  the  fairest  of  Thy  crea 
tures/' 

Wilding  arose  still  holding  the  fair  girl's  hand 
and  gazing  enraptured  into  her  beautiful  eyes, 
he  seemed  to  have  reached  the  supreme  degree  of 
happiness  possible  to  mortal  man. 

The  convent  bell  sounded;  Wilding  gazed  with 
rapture  on  the  beautiful  Inez,  and  then  with  a 
most  respectful  salute  left  them. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Consternation  reigned  everywhere.  Villa 's 
troops,  co-operating  with  the  Carranzistas,  were 
rapidly  overcoming  all  resistance.  Deserters  from 
the  Federalists  were  continually  going  over  to  the 
Revolutionists.  Traitors  were  betraying  the  Fed 
eralists  to  the  leaders  of  the  revolution,  and  point 
ing  out  the  hiding  places  of  innocent  non-com 
batants  who  had  fled  from  the  lawless  fury  of 
Villa 's  hordes. 

During  that  night  sleep  was  impossible  to 
Harold  Wilding.  He  spent  some  of  the  night  in 
arranging  to  transmit  to  a  friend  in  the  United 
States  a  synopsis  of  the  chaplain's  conference. 
Many  times  during  the  night  he  went  back  to  the 
convent  to  be  assured  that  Inez  and  Miriam  were 
in  safety.  He  had  no  thought  of  personal  danger. 
If  he  could  have  secured  the  safety  of  the  maidens 
by  the  sacrifice  of  his  life,  such  sacrifice  would 
have  been  the  happiest  moment  of  his  life. 

It  was  not  yet  clear  dawn  of  the  morning  of 
June  3,  1914,  when  Wilding,  anxiously  patrolling 
the  vicinity  of  the  convent,  discovered  the  dim  out 
lines  of  two  horsemen  standing  motionless  at  a 
little  distance  from  the  convent's  main  gate.  It 


-50  A    DAUGHTEK    OF    MEXICO 

was  for  him  a  moment  of  great  terror.  He  stood 
for  a  moment  breathless,  benumbed. 

His  was  not  the  fear  of  a  coward,  but  the  self- 
denying  solicitude  for  the  defenseless  women  and 
for  the  noble  priest. 

Cautiously  he  crept  towards  the  mounted  figures 
to  ascertain  more  of  their  identity  and  purpose. 

As  he  drew  nearer  and  the  morning  light  grew 
brighter  he  could  scarcely  restrain  a  cry  of  joy. 
The  horsemen  were  Leon  and  Joseph.  The  state 
of  things  was  even  worse  than  Wilding  had  be 
lieved.  The  Revolutionists  would  take  Z be 
fore  the  close  of  the  day  that  was  dawning.  The 
fearful  deeds  that  they  had  committed  in  other  vil 
lages  and  cities  they  would  perpetrate  in  Z . 

At  Tamaulipas  five  priests  were  killed  and  three 
held  for  ransom;  nuns  were  outraged  and  their 
convent  burned.  Even  in  the  government  house 
drunken  orgies  and  revelings  with  lewd  women 
were  of  frequent  occurrence.  And  at  this  very  time 
John  Lind,  the  special  envoy  of  President  Wilson, 
was  receiving  ovations  from  the  leaders  of  this 
fearful  revolution ;  he  was  preparing  for  his  chief 
a  defense  of  the  Constitutionalists.  John  Lind 
was  parleying  with  the  Zapatistas — Zapata,  that 
ghoul  in  human  flesh;  Zapata,  the  black-skinned, 
bestial  Indian,  who  embodies  in  himself  miser's 
greed  and  the  cruelty  and  bestial  lust  of  Nero. 
From  his  fortified  home  at  Villa  Ayala,  he  has 
terrorized  Mexico  for  more  than  five  years.  Even 


A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  251 

the  iron  hand  of  Diaz  was  unable  to  put  him  down. 

This  monster  has  the  negro's  lust  for  white 
women.  One  of  his  victims  declares  that  during 
the  three  months  of  her  captivity  eleven  of  the 
ruined  girls,  whom  he  held  in  his  villa,  killed  them 
selves.  Here  in  this  hell  some  of  the  most  re 
spectable  maidens  of  the  land  were  exposed  nude 
upon  an  auctioneer's  table  and  sold  to  the  highest 
bidder. 

Other  deeds  have  been  done  by  this  bandit  that 
are  unprintable. 

In  the  diary  of  Mrs.  Edith  0  'Shaughnessy,  wife 
of  our  former  diplomat  in  Mexico,  we  find  this 
entry :  ' '  We  hear  that  Mr.  Lind  is  having  parley- 
ings  with  the  Zapatistas !  If  he  is  going  to  dream 
this  dream  and  pass  it  on  to  his  friends  in  Wash 
ington,  they  will  all  have  the  most  awful  night 
mare  ever  visited  on  dreamers.  Zapata  has  been 
the  terror  of  every  President — Diaz,  de  la  Barra, 
Madero  and  Huerta — for  nearly  five  years.  His 
crimes  and  depredations  are  committed  under  the 
banner  of  'Land  for  the  People,'  and  there  has 
been  a  certain  consistency  about  his  proceedings, 
always  'agin  the  government';  but  that  he  has, 
after  those  years  of  bloodshed,  rapine  and  loot, 
rendered  conditions  more  tolerable  for  any  except 
the  rapers  and  looters,  is  most  debatable.  I  once 
saw  some  LIVING  remains  brought  to  the  Red 
Cross  after  one  of  his  acts  at  Tres  Marias,  about 
fifty  kilometres  from  here.  The  train  was  at- 


252  A   DAUGHTEE    OF    MEXICO 

tacked,  looted,  oil  was  poured  on  the  passengers, 
and  the  train  was  set  on  fire.  The  doctors  who 
went  to  the  station  to  get  the  remains  out  of  the 
train  say  the  sight  was  unforgettable. ' ' 

Many  of  Carranza's  officials  are  friends  of 
Zapata,  and  share  in  his  loot.  Both  chieftains 
hold  their  power  by  the  same  deception,  proclaim 
ing  to  advocate  ' i  the  land  for  the  people. ' ' 

Wilding  hastened  to  his  friends,  and  the  three 
brave  men  entered  into  an  earnest  consultation. 
It  was  decided  to  send  the  two  maidens  under  the 
escort  of  Joseph  to  a  place  of  hiding  in  the  moun 
tains.  The  Indian  boy  knew  secret  paths  by 
which  it  was  hoped  he  might  elude  the  besieging 
Kevolutionists.  In  the  mountains  dwelt  a  lone 
hermit.  He  was  an  Indian,  who  traced  his  pedi 
gree  back  to  Jean  Diego.  He  never  mingled  in 
human  society,  save  to  minister  to  the  poor  in 
their  sickness  and  need.  He  could  not  be  said  to 
have  a  fixed  abode:  he  was  familiar  with  many 
caves  in  the  mountains,  and  made  his  temporary 
resting  place  in  one  or  the  other  of  these.  He 
was  often  seen  in  the  churches,  and  was  revered 
by  all  men.  Inasmuch  as  he  possessed  nothing, 
he  had  nothing  to  excite  the  cupidity  of  the  Revo 
lutionists,  and  he  passed  unharmed  among  the 
warring  factions  whenever  his  pious  pilgrimages 
or  his  errands  of  mercy  compelled  him  to  go 
among  them.  The  hermit  had  often  rested  in 
Leon  and  Joseph's  home,  and  they  knew  that 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  253 

Miriam  and  Inez  would  be  safe  with  him  to  the  full 
extent  of  what  his  protection  could  effect. 

Members  of  the  religious  life  arise  early.  Al 
though  it  was  not  yet  clear  day,  the  nuns  were  at 
prayer  and  meditation. 

It  was  not  a  time  for  ceremonious  formalities. 
The  men  calmly  made  known  to  the  Mother  of  the 
convent  the  danger  and  the  plan  to  rescue  the 
maidens.  The  Mother  was  a  woman  of  noble  soul. 
She  grasped  the  situation  at  once,  and  summoned 
both  Miriam  and  Inez,  who  were  with  the  nuns  at 
prayer.  There  was  no  hysterical  crying  or  shriek 
ing;  with  Spartan  courage,  inspired  by  faith, 
Miriam  and  Inez  prepared  for  the  journey  and 
mounted  the  horses  on  which  Leon  and  Joseph  had 
ridden  thither.  Inez  was  given  the  honor  of 
mounting  Black  Bess. 

As  the  convent  Mother  consigned  to  both 
maidens  some  small  parcels  which  she  had  pre 
pared  for  their  journey,  she  whispered:  "We 
shall  meet  in  Heaven. "  A  quiet  tear  trickled 
down  her  noble  face  as  she  bade  them  a  loving 
farewell. 

Joseph  and  the  maidens  departed,  but  Leon  and 
Wilding  remained  to  offer  their  services  in  the 
defense  of  their  friends. 

It  could  be  seen  at  a  glance  that  there  was  no 
hope  of  saving  the  town  by  resisting.  Leon  and 
Wilding  spent  the  day  in  providing  as  well  as 
possible  for  the  safety  of  the  nuns ;  they  made  no 


254  A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

effort  to  save  the  priests;  not  that  they  revered 
the  priests  less;  but  the  priests  had  only  their 
lives  to  lose;  the  nuns  were  in  danger  of  a  fate 
worse  than  death.  As  far  as  the  writer  is  able  to 

ascertain,   the   nuns   of  Z escaped   outrage. 

On  the  priests  fell  the  full  force  of  the  bestialized 
robbers. 

The  city  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Revolution 
ists  at  sundown  of  June  3,  1914.  Immediately 
they  arrested  the  chaplain  and  demanded  a  heavy 
ransom.  A  serene  smile  lit  up  the  chaplain's 
noble  face  as  he  replied:  " Gentlemen,  I  have 
neither  money  nor  lands  nor  temporal  goods  of 
any  kind,  save  my  poor  clothing  and  my  books. 
My  clothing  will  not  serve  you;  neither  will  my 
books.  I  beg  not  for  my  life,  but  I  do  ask  that 
you  spare  my  books.  They  represent  much  of  the 
best  effort  of  my  life.  There  is  no  sedition  in 
them,  nothing  against  the  love  of  our  country  and 
its  independence.  If  you  love  Mexico,  know  that 
I  love  it  in  no  less  degree.  I  have  committed  no 
crime  against  society,  private  person,  or  the  state. 
If  Mexico  needs  my  life  as  a  sin-offering,  I  offer 
it  gladly.  I  would  gladly  undergo  the  most  fear 
ful  torments  ever  inflicted  on  a  Christian  martyr 
if,  by  such  suffering,  I  could  in  any  measure  save 
my  beloved  country  from  her  present  unhappy 
state.  You  charge  me  with  political  activity.  I 
answer  that  no  citizen  can  discharge  his  duty  as 
a  citizen  without  taking  an  active  interest  in  pub- 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  255 

lie  life.  I  have  done  no  act  of  violence.  My  min 
istrations  have  been  given  to  all  parties  with  equal 
love. 

"I  believed  in  the  rule  of  Porfirio  Diaz ;  I  tried 
by  peaceable  means  to  prolong  that  rule. 

"I  never  approved  of  the  rule  of  Francisco 
Madero;  no  true  Mexican  believed  in  Madero 's 
government.  You  boast  of  advocating  liberty  of 
conscience  and  liberty  of  speech.  While  Madero 
was  in  power  I  obeyed  the  laws;  I  incited  to  no 
violence;  I  merely  advocated  that  by  a  lawful 
election  another  president  might  be  chosen. 

"When  Madero  fell,  I  deplored  the  manner  of 
his  taking  off.  By  speech  and  writing  I  con 
demned  it,  and  foretold  that  it  would  lead  to  more 
bloodshed. 

"I  accepted  Huerta  as  a  necessity.  His  com 
plicity  in  the  death  of  Madero  has  never  been 
proven.  Huerta  was  a  strong  man.  Mexico  needs 
a  man  of  iron.  I  am  not  sponsor  for  all  his  acts, 
but  I  believe  that  the  man  has  been  calumniated 
by  those  who  have  heaped  calumnies  upon  the 
Catholic  Church  in  Mexico. 

"Were  it  not  for  the  interference  of  the  United 
States,  I  believe  that  Huerta  would  have  brought 
Mexico  out  of  its  chaos. 

"When  the  Chief  of  the  United  States  put  an 
embargo  on  arms  and  munitions  of  war  for 
Huerta,  while  allowing  the  Revolutionists  to  have 
both,  Huerta  could  not  stand.  Those  guns  with 


256  A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

which  you  have  slain  many  of  the  best  citizens  of 
Mexico;  those  guns  with  which  you  will  slay  me 
are  there  by  the  act  of  the  President  of  the  United 
States. 

"You  say  that  you  hate  the  United  States,  and 
in  that  I  cannot  blame  you.  Mexico  has  never 
yet  received  justice  or  kindness  from  the  United 
States.  In  her  unjust  war  against  us  she  robbed 
us ;  her  Yankee  hypocrisy  disgusts  even  the  lowest 
dregs  of  our  social  order ;  her  capitalists  have  ex 
ploited  our  natural  resources;  her  missionaries 
and  her  Freemasons  have  corrupted  the  souls  of 
our  people  and  taken  from  them  their  faith. 

"The  one  act  of  Victoriano  Huerta,  which  I 
admire  most,  was  his  refusal  to  apologize  by  salut 
ing  a  foreign  flag  for  a  trivial  incident  in  which, 
without  loss  of  life,  Mexicans  had  fired  upon  a 
small  boat  flying  the  flag  of  the  United  States. 

"During  Huerta 's  government  no  churches 
were  looted,  desecrated  or  destroyed;  no  nuns 
and  innocent  women  were  violated  with  impunity ; 
no  unjust  confiscation  or  destruction  of  property 
was  accomplished.  What  inspires  your  hatred  of 
the  Catholic  Church?  You  cannot  blame  her  for 
the  agrarian  laws  which  you  say  are  unjust.  She 
did  not  make  these  laws ;  all  temporal  power  has 
been  taken  from  her  by  your  'Laws  of  Reform.' 
Have  those  boasted  laws  made  Mexico  better  or 
happier?  For  fifty  years  Mexico  has  been  the 
prey  of  freethinkers,  Freemasons  and  bandits. 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  257 

The  Church  could  do  little.  Where  she  could  call 
men  to  hear  her  counsels  and  obey  her  mandates, 
she  made  them  worthy  citizens.  In  foreign  lands 
the  Church  in  Mexico  is  sometimes  blamed  for  the 
character  of  the  Mexican.  This  is  a  most  unjust 
falsehood.  It  is  a  remarkable  evidence  of  the 
divine  power  of  the  Church  that  there  is  any  civil 
ization  in  our  land.  What  are  ye  Mexicans  1  In 
dians,  by  nature  weak  in  character ;  Mestizos  com 
bining  the  worst  traits  of  Spanish  adventurers 
and  your  aborigines ;  and  European  adventurers. 
There  is  no  soberness  in  your  life.  The  life  of 
the  camp,  with  its  hope  of  plunder,  appeals  to 
you  more  than  the  patient  life  of  Christian  service. 
I  include  not  all  the  people  of  Mexico  in  this  cate 
gory.  I  am  willing  to  admit  that  only  a  small  per 
centage  of  the  people  are  lawless ;  but  if  the  mass 
of  the  people  of  Mexico  were  a  strong,  sober  peo 
ple,  the  usurper  Madero  would  never  have  pre 
vailed.  The  vultures,  whom  ye  call  chiefs,  would 
have  long  ago  been  driven  from  the  soil  if  the  peo 
ple  had  the  moral  stamina  of  the  Jews  of  old 
who  fought  under  Judas  Maccabeus  and  his  dy 
nasty.  That  wave  of  skepticism,  which  has  swept 
over  the  world,  has  so  weakened  our  faith  that  we 
are  cowards.  Our  faith  does  not  possess  us ; 
doubt  lurks  in  our  souls  even  while  we  say  credo. 
Our  souls  are  so  full  of  the  mean  things  of  earth 
that  there  is  little  room  for  spiritual  things.  The 
world  has  grown  mighty,  proud,  arrogant.  The 


258  A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

humble  character  of  the  religion  of  the  cross  is 
looked  on  with  pity  or  contempt.  The  world  has 
made  a  counterfeit  religion,  leaving  out  of  it  the 
spiritual  element.  It  appeals  to  the  proud,  world 
ly  spirit  of  the  men  of  our  times.  By  God's  grace 
I  look  upon  your  guns  with  indifference;  but  the 
great  default  of  my  country  fills  me  with  a  su 
preme  sorrow.  I  have  often  longed  for  a  leader 
who  would  form  a  party  on  principles  of  truth  and 
justice  and  save  Mexico ;  but  in  these  later  days  I 
am  persuaded  that  the  people  would  desert  him 
and  betray  him.  Gentlemen,  if  you  seek  my  life 
I  am  ready,  but  in  the  name  of  the  Living  God  I 
charge  you,  harm  none  of  those  innocent  virgins 
who,  in  this  holy  abode,  do  the  work  of  Christ. 
They  have  no  wealth  for  your  coffers;  and  as  I 
offer  my  life  freely  as  an  expiation,  I  trust  that 
God  will  save  them  from  that  which  is  worse  than 
death.  I  have  done. ' ' 

The  Mexican  loves  to  hear  a  stirring  speech. 
Like  the  Athenians  of  old,  the  Mexican  loves 
novelty,  excitement,  gaudy  pageantry,  pleasures 
and  eloquence.  Though  the  priest  spoke  fearless 
ly,  and  spared  no  one,  they  heard  him  to  the  end. 
Then  the  leader  advanced,  and  told  him  that  the 

priests  of  Z had  at  first  been  condemned  to 

pay  a  fine  of  $1,000,000.  This  had  been  reduced 
to  $100,000,  and  that  amount  they  were  supposed 
to  collect  by  begging  it  from  the  people.  The 
chaplain  was  expected  to  contribute  his  part. 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  259 

There  were  about  twenty-five  priests  in  Z . 

Calmly  the  chaplain  replied:  "I  have  stated 
truthfully  that  I  am  without  temporal  goods. 
Your  actions  reveal  the  hypocrisy  of  the  profes 
sion  of  the  Revolutionists.  If  your  purpose  be 
to  improve  the  condition  of  the  people,  why  am  I 
arrested  ?  I  am  of  the  people ;  I  have  never  sought 
the  favor  of  the  rich;  I  have  none  of  the  wealth 
which  you  declare  that  you  will  restore  to  the  peo 
ple.  You  ask  me  to  go  out  and  beg  my  ransom 
from  the  people.  In  the  perspective  of  history 
this  deed  will  be  reviewed,  and  what  think  you 
will  be  the  verdict  of  posterity? 

"You  also  have  claimed  that  you  were  to  free 
the  educational  system  of  Mexico  from  the  reac 
tionary  influence  of  the  Catholic  Church.  How 
your  deeds  belie  your  professions !  You  looted  the 
valuable  library  of  Archbishop  Plancarte  of  Mon 
terey,  one  of  the  first  scholars  of  Mexico.  The 
great  archbishop  had  spent  forty  years  in  his 
torical  and  archaeological  study.  His  books  and 
manuscripts  were  priceless.  You  stole  his  books, 
you  threw  away  as  useless  his  manuscrips,  and 
delivered  the  contents  of  his  museum  to  the  rabble. 
The  venerable  scholar,  an  international  glory  of 
your  nation,  is  in  exile  in  borrowed  clothes  in  the 
United  States.  You  destroyed  the  fine  Jesuit 
college  at  Guadalajara,  you  threw  the  books  out 
of  the  windows,  sold  them  for  10  cents  the  volume, 
smashed  the  finest  scientific  apparatus  in  Mexico. 


260  A   DAUGHTEK    OF    MEXICO 

Your  Colonel  Calderon,  an  ex-convict,  had  sworn 
to  protect  the  library  and  scientific  apparatus. 
He  broke  his  pledge,  after  enjoying  the  hospital 
ity  of  the  Jesuit  Fathers  for  fifteen  days.  The 
professors  were  banished,  the  college  confiscated, 
and  all  that  it  contained  scattered. 

"You  did  the  same  with  the  college  of  the  Nuns 
of  the  Sacred  Heart.  What  crime  had  these 
angels  of  mercy  and  purity  committed?  Even  as 
the  lying  witnesses,  testifying  against  Christ  be 
fore  Annas  and  Caiphas,  could  not  make  out  a 
case  against  Christ,  so  you  fail  to  find  any  charge 
to  bring  against  these.  The  nuns  of  Mexico  have 
taught  your  children,  nursed  your  sick,  and  cared 
for  your  orphans ;  and  in  return  you  murder  them, 
outrage  them  and  drive  them  into  exile.  In  their 
pillaged  colleges  you  lodged  your  prostitutes  and 
dressed  them  in  the  stolen  garments  of  the  nuns. 

"What  was  the  crime  of  the  priests  at  Saltillo, 
whom  you  tortured  and  whose  college  you  de 
stroyed  ?  This  was  their  crime,  they  taught  better 
than  the  government  schools.  This  is  'your  hour 
and  the  power  of  the  world ';  but  there  will  come 
another  day  in  which  these  foul  deeds  shall  be  ex 
amined  in  the  great  Assize;  and  do  ye  fear  the 
judgment. ' ' 

Major  Villareal :  "You  will  be  shot  if  you  give 
not  the  money. ' ' 

Chaplain :  "I  have  said  before  that  I  have  no 
money. ' ' 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  261 

Colonel  Beytia :  "  Go  out  and  beg  it  from  door 
to  door." 

Chaplain:  "I  cannot  do  that,  as  I  deem  it  con 
trary  to  my  honor  as  a  man.  I  have  no  right  to 
accept  the  offerings  of  the  people  to  deliver  them 
to  those  who  are  destroying  the  religion  and  civil 
ization  of  my  country." 

Major  Alvarez:  "The  other  priests  will  beg 
the  money:  why  will  not  you?" 

Chaplain :  "In  this  terrible  hour  I  am  not  of  a 
mind  to  censure  what  my  afflicted  brothers  may 
do.  I  say  for  myself  that  I  have  not  money  for 
ransom,  and  that  I  shall  not  beg  any  from  any  one. 
I  say  further  that  if  I  were  possessed  of  money,  I 
would  not  give  it  to  you.  I  have  not  any  of  the 
virtues  of  St.  Lawrence,  but  in  my  weak  way  I 
am  happy  to  imitate  his  example  when  he  refused 
to  deliver  the  money  entrusted  to  his  care  to  the 
satellites  of  the  Eoman  Emperor." 

Major  Villareal:  "You  refuse  to  obtain  the 
money?" 

Chaplain :     "I  refuse. ' ' 

Major  Villareal :     ' '  Search  him. ' ' 

A  band  of  brutal  soldiers  seized  the  unresisting 
priest  and  robbed  him  of  everything  of  any  value. 

The  chaplain  seemed  to  lose  interest  in  all  that 
was  transpiring.  He  seemed  to  live  in  another 
world.  His  lips  moved  in  inaudible  prayer;  his 
eyes  were  turned  heavenward. 

At  this  point  a  messenger  brought  to  the  officer 


262  A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

in  charge  of  the  affair  an  announcement  that  an 
American  gentleman  wished  to  see  him.  With  an 
insolent  nod  of  the  head  the  officer  expressed  his 
consent  to  see  the  American. 

In  a  moment  Harold  Wilding  entered.  One 
could  see  at  a  glance  that  he  was  suffering  agony. 
He  approached  the  officer,  and  addressed  him 
thus:  "Senor,  I  come  to  plead  for  this  man's 
life.  I  am  informed  that  a  ransom  is  demanded 
of  him.  May  I  know  the  amount  demanded,  and 
if  possible  I  shall  use  all  my  power  to  deliver  it 
to  you. ' ' 

The  officer's  eyes  blazed.  He  was  half  drunk. 
Turning  to  Wilding  with  a  sneer,  he  replied: 
"You  Americans  are  not  wanted  in  Mexico.  We 
despise  you  and  your  vulgar  millionaires.  What 
is  the  American's  conception  of  life?  merely  to 
accumulate  dollars.  What  brought  you  to  Mex 
ico  ?  to  exploit  us,  to  carry  away  our  riches  to  add 
to  your  accursed  hoard.  You  are  never  satisfied. 
You  measure  all  things  by  the  dollar.  The  man 
with  a  million  wants  many  millions.  The  man 
who  has  more  than  plenty  reaches  out  with  fren 
zied,  restless,  pitiless  greed.  Your  rich  have  no 
home  life,  no  lofty  conception  of  life.  Their 
dollars  are  stained  with  the  blood  and  the  tears 
of  those  by  whose  labor  they  have  piled  up  their 
hoard.  You  'burn  dollars'  in  seeking  sensual 
gratification  which  corrupts  your  domestic  ties 
until  you  have  become  a  nation  of  divorces.  Our 


A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  263 

Mexican  mothers  glory  in  their  large  families; 
but  your  unnatural  monsters  shirk  the  burden  of 
motherhood  and  expend  on  cats  and  dogs  the 
irresistible  force  of  the  pent-up  maternal  instinct. 
Do  not  measure  Mexican  civilization  by  us.  We 
are  soldiers  of  fortune.  We  shall  break  down  the 
semi-feudal  system  that  holds  back  the  ameliora 
tion  of  our  people.  The  priests  have  been  pro 
tected  and  favored  by  the  rich.  They  must  share 
their  fate.  As  the  Commune  in  France  found  it 
necessary  to  include  the  clergy  with  the  nobility, 
so  we  soldiers  of  the  Revolution  in  Mexico  are 
mere  pitiless  executioners  to  rid  this  land  of  all 
privilege. 

* '  You  in  the  United  States  study  the  number  of 
movements  of  the  arm  of  a  workman,  devising  by 
scientific  methods  to  increase  his  output  in  order 
to  increase  your  dividends.  He  is  a  mere  ma 
chine.  As  you  mark  oft*  a  percentage  in  your  in 
ventory  for  the  depreciation  of  your  machinery, 
so  the  workman's  age  marks  his  depreciation. 
When  age  has  reduced  those  movements  of  his 
arm  you  cast  him  out  on  the  junk  heap  of  hu 
manity. 

"You  are  full  of  boasting;  there  is  no  rest,  no 
soberness  in  your  life.  You  are  the  most  super 
ficial  people  in  the  world.  There  is  no  place  in 
the  world  where  nobodies  so  often  attain  the  posi 
tions  of  honor  and  power.  Your  colossal  asso 
ciations  of  commerce,  industries,  railroads  and 


264  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

mines  form  the  most  dangerous  oligarchy  that  the 
world  has  ever  suffered.  Your  courts  of  law  are 
a  mere  hypocritical  pretense  when  they  deal  with 
regulating  these  gigantic  groups.  The  trusts 
reign  in  your  land.  Ye  claim  to  love  liberty,  and 
to  be  brave  to  uphold  the  honor  of  the  United 
States.  But  in  reality  ye  are  cowards.  England 
has  openly  insulted  you,  violated  your  interna 
tional  rights,  restricted  your  commerce,  seized 
your  mails,  unjustly  searched  your  ships,  refused 
a  landing  to  your  peaceable  citizens,  and  despised 
your  diplomacy;  and  ye  have  borne  it  like  the 
galley  slave  suffers  the  lash.  Your  venal  press, 
subsidized  by  English  money,  has  industriously 
circulated  the  officious  lies  by  which  England  seeks 
to  conceal  her  disgrace  and  her  defeats.  That 
subsidized  press  has  created  a  public  opinion 
inimical  to  the  Teutonic  nations.  Your  adminis 
tration  was  harsh  with  Germany  and  her  brave 
ally,  who  today  among  the  belligerent  nations  of 
Europe  are  the  only  nations  wherein  truth  and 
justice  reign.  Your  harsh  measures  with  the 
Teutonic  allies  were  unjust  and  cowardly.  You 
knew  that,  hemmed  in  by  foes,  she  could  not  resist 
your  injustice.  Ye  laugh  at  our  revolutions. 
They  are  unfortunate,  but  they  are  but  little  worse 
than  your  boss  system,  the  most  corrupt  in  the 
world. 

i  *  What  is  the  record  of  the  municipal  govern 
ment  of  your  cities?      Has  it  a  parallel  in  cor- 


A   DAUGHTEE    OF    MEXICO  265 

ruption  in  the  history  of  the  world.  Your  Yankee 
bigotry  kept  out  of  your  confederation  the  pres 
ent  Dominion  of  Canada,  and  the  Canadian  today, 
who  wishes  annexation  to  you,  is  a  degenerate. 
If  ye  enjoy  any  esteem  among  the  nations  of  the 
world  today,  it  is  your  dollars  and  not  your  char 
acter  that  compels  it.  Had  it  not  been  for  the 
mighty  natural  wealth  of  your  land,  your  republic 
would  have  failed  by  its  own  corruption.  The 
basis  of  society,  the  home,  is  not  sacred  with  you. 
In  a  large  percentage  of  your  homes,  she,  whom 
God  ordained  to  hold  the  sacred  relation  of 
mother,  is  a  mere  instrument  for  the  gratification 
of  lust.  And  over  it  all  is  a  monstrous  pretense 
of  high  standards,  a  washing  of  the  outside  of  the 
cup.  Ye  fools,  ye  set  up  as  national  heroes  hypo 
crites  and  frauds.  Ye  cry,  'Bemember  the 
Maine,'  when  ye  should  beg  that  there  be  blotted 
out  from  the  memory  of  men  the  crowning  shame 
of  your  own  crime.  Ye  charged  to  a  friendly  na 
tion  the  act  of  your  own  incompetent,  drunken 
officers.  Your  weak  tool,  McKinley,  to  whom  ye 
build  statues,  refused  the  offer  of  the  Queen  of 
Spain,  who  asked  him  to  be  sole  arbiter  of  the 
cause  of  Cuba,  and  to  dictate  the  terms  of  the 
status  which  the  United  States  wished  for  the 
island.  Do  I  speak  untruthfully?  Eead  the  pub 
lished  correspondence  of  your  own  Woodward, 
Minister  to  Spain. 

"The    driveling    sycophant,    McKinley,    sup- 


266  A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

pressed  the  noble  petition  of  the  Queen  of  Spain 
and  let  loose  the  dogs  of  war  upon  a  weak  nation 
to  please  a  corrupt  army  clique,  a  yellow  press 
and  a  band  of  Protestant  missionaries. 

"Ye  have  seventy  millions  of  pagans  in  your 
own  land,  and  yet  ye  send  your  carpet-bagging 
missionaries  here  to  preach  to  us  your  Puritanism 
and  your  Phariseeism.  The  poor  peon,  who  is 
bribed  by  your  'missionary'  gold,  despises  your 
hirelings.  We  despise  you.  Get  out.  We  do 
not  want  your  upstarts  to  impress  your  ideas  and 
methods  on  us.  Your  millionaires,  by  means  of 
their  millions,  may  force  their  will  upon  your 
government,  but  they  cannot  make  us  their  slaves. 
You  are  more  powerful  than  us,  but  you  cannot 
subjugate  Mexico  until  the  last  Mexican  patriot 
is  hunted  to  death  in  our  mountains. 

"We  have  vices;  we  have  not  yet  reached  our 
ideal.  Many  of  the  excesses  of  our  soldiers  would 
not  have  been  permitted  if  we  could  pay  our 
troops.  Mexico  must  suffer  and  bleed  before  we 
can  realize  our  national  ideal.  This  man  is  a 
traitor  to  the  cause  of  the  Revolution  and  he  must 
die,  and  no  American  intervention  can  save  him. ' ' 

Wilding  saw  that  it  was  useless  to  parley  witli 
the  infuriated  chief.  He  felt  his  helplessness  to 
save  the  man  for  whom  he  would  readily  have 
given  his  life.  With  shame  he  wTas  also  inwardly 
forced  to  admit  that  there  was  much  truth  in  the 
Mexican's  censure  of  the  United  States.  In  a 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  267 

debate  with  a  reasonable  man,  under  different  cir 
cumstances,  he  would  have  sustained  a  defense  of 
his  country's  grand  constitution,  of  her  love  of 
justice,  of  her  humane  spirit,  of  her  love  of 
brotherhood,  her  defense  of  the  sacred  rights  of 
life  and  property.  He  would  have  set  forth  her 
splendid  institutions,  her  philanthropy,  her  re 
ligious  toleration.  Scenes  came  into  his  memory 
of  the  peace  and  happiness  reigning  at  home,  of 
the  gentleness  and  kindness  of  his  countrymen. 
He  saw  the  Freemason  at  home  doff  his  hat  and 
grasp  the  hand  of  the  Catholic  priest  in  genuine 
friendship.  He  knew  that  the  best  spirits  of  his 
land  stood  for  the  equality  of  all  men  in  their 
common  right  to  pursue  happiness.  His  native 
land  had  some  defects,  mighty  defects,  but  it  had 
also  mighty  virtues.  With  its  inherent  love  of 
what  was  just  and  good,  he  hoped  that  it  would 
gradually  purge  itself  of  its  maladies.  There  was 
no  country  in  the  world  where  men  had  a  deeper 
sense  of  justice  and  mercy  than  in  his  own  be 
loved  land. 

How  he  wished  that  the  good  priest,  and  Inez, 
and  Miriam,  Leon  and  Joseph  were  in  the  United 
States!  The  civilization  of  his  land  was  exces 
sively  materialistic ;  but  it  left  men  radically  just 
and  merciful. 

Surely  God  loved  his  native  land,  so  blessed  by 
nature,  so  happy  and  peaceable.  And  his  country 
would  in  time  recognize  her  defects,  and  turn  to 


268  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

the  better  things.  Her  mighty  power  would  be  a 
world  force  making  for  justice  and  truth.  Fair- 
mindedness  was  a  leading  characteristic  of  his 
country,  and  that  virtue  would  dispose  the  souls 
of  his  countrymen  to  develop  in  themselves  other 
virtues  which  now  might  be  lacking. 

The  discourse  of  the  Mexican,  therefore,  made 
him  love  his  country  more,  and  strengthened  his 
belief  in  her  glorious  destiny. 

Turning  again  to  the  Mexican  chief,  Wilding- 
spoke  :  ' '  Senor,  I  have  no  thought  to  criticize  the 
institutions  of  your  country,  or  to  oppose  in  any 
way  your  political  aspirations.  It  is  not  a  vice  in 
a  man  to  believe  his  country  the  best  of  all.  I  do 
not  believe  that  you  demand  that  I  renounce  my 
love  of  my  Country.  I  have  never  taken  sides  with 
the  political  parties  in  Mexico,  believing  that,  as 
a  stranger  within  your  gates,  I  had  no  right  to 
mingle  in  your  internal  affairs.  But  there  are 
certain  rights  which  are  not  circumscribed  by  any 
territorial  or  political  limits.  They  belong  to  hu 
manity  considered  as  a  unit.  Such  is  the  right 
of  brotherhood,  the  innocent  man's  right  to  life. 
Even  were  this  worthy  priest  a  total  stranger  to 
me,  I  should  feel  the  duty  of  pleading  for  his  life. 
That  man  is  as  dear  to  me  as  my  own  parents. 
There  is  nothing  that  I  possess,  even  my  life,  that 
I  would  not  give  to  save  him.  He  has  committed 
no  crime.  He  has  had  no  trial.  You  believe  in 
the  principles  of  Juarez.  His  motto  was:  'Re- 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  269 

spect  for  the  rights  of  others  is  peace. '  This  man 
has  the  right  to  life  until  he  has  been  tried  and 
found  guilty  of  a  crime  punishable  by  death.  I 
am  not  speaking  as  an  American,  but  as  a  man 
to  my  fellow  men  for  the  rights  of  our  fellow 
man. ' ' 

It  was  plain  that  the  Mexican  wished  to  termi 
nate  the  interview.  He  answered:  "I  can  give 
you  no  definite  answer.  The  man  must  remain 
in  our  custody,  and  you  may  know  tomorrow 
what  shall  be  decreed. ' ' 

Wilding  was  escorted  from  the  Mexican's  pres 
ence.  His  soul  was  full  of  sorrow  and  misgivings. 
How  can  men  be  so  unjust  and  cruel?  There 
seemed  to  be  nothing  else  that  he  could  do.  It 
would  be  useless  to  appeal  to  the  American  consul, 
for  the  administration  at  Washington  paid  no 
heed  to  the  crimes  against  humanity  that  were 
perpetrated  in  the  Eepublic  of  Mexico.  The 
demagogue  of  the  White  House  had  declared  that 
it  did  not  concern  the  United  States  what  Mexico 
did  within  her  borders.  That  principle  in  its  ap 
plication  to  the  present  crisis  is  false.  It  is  only 
true  when  applied  to  the  domestic  affairs  of  a 
country,  provided  the  high  principles  of  the  laws 
that  bind  humanity  be  not  violated.  I  may  not 
enter  my  neighbor's  house  and  tell  him  how  he 
should  feed  or  clothe  his  children,  how  he  should 
till  his  soil,  or  manage  his  household.  He  is  the 
lord  of  his  home,  and  of  his  property;  but  if  I 


270  A    DAUGHTEK    OF    MEXICO 

see  my  neighbor  attempting  to  kill  his  wife  or 
child  or  any  other  innocent  person,  or  attempting 
violence  to  a  child  or  woman,  or  attempting  to 
rob  and  plunder,  I  have  a  right  and  a  duty  to  re 
strain  him,  and  I  am  a  coward  if  I  fail  to  restrain 
him  according  to  my  power.  Those  platitudes  of 
the  misplaced  schoolmaster  of  the  White  House 
are  miserable  political  drivel.  With  the  cries 
of  outraged  nuns  and  respectable  women  and  the 
death  groans  of  murdered  innocent  persons  ring 
ing  in  his  ears  from  Mexico,  he  goes  before  an 
American  audience  and  tells  them  that  the  su 
preme  American  ideal  should  be  to  sell  goods : 

"What  do  wre  desire  when  this  great  struggle  is 
over!  Permanent  peace.  Lift  your  eyes  to  the 
horizon  of  business.  Let  your  thoughts  run 
abroad  throughout  the  world  and  with  thought 
that  you  are  Americans  and  stand  for  the  liberties 
and  rights  of  mankind,  go  out  and  sell  your 
goods  and  in  so  doing  attempt  to  convert  them  to 
the  principles  of  America. "  (Speech  of  Presi 
dent  Wilson  at  Detroit,  July  10,  1916.) 

If  the  principles  of  America  were  his  principles, 
then  God  forbid  that  the  nations  should  be  con 
verted  to  them. 

He  virtually  drove  from  Mexico  a  man  whom 
he,  perhaps  unjustly,  suspected  of  complicity  in 
one  murder ;  and  yet  he  defends  and  upholds  with 
the  powder  of  the  United  States  a  man  whose  hands 


A    DAUGHTEB    OF    MEXICO  271 

are  red  with  many  murders  perpetrated  by  his 
unrestrained  Constitutionalist  troops. 

That  men  may  know  we  are  not  misrepresenting 
conditions  in  Mexico,  let  us  receive  from  President 
Wilson's  own  secretary  an  authentic  description 
of  Carranza's  government: 

"For  three  years  the  Mexican  republic  has  been 
torn  with  civil  strife ;  the  lives  of  Americans  and 
other  aliens  have  been  sacrificed;  vast  properties 
developed  by  American  capital  and  enterprise 
have  been  destroyed  or  rendered  non-productive; 
bandits  have  been  permitted  to  roam  at  will 
through  the  territory  contiguous  to  the  United 
States,  and  to  seize,  without  punishment  or  with 
out  effective  attempt  at  punishment,  the  property 
of  Americans,  while  the  lives  of  citizens  of  the 
United  States,  who  ventured  to  remain  in  Mexican 
territory  or  to  return  there  to  protect  their  inter 
ests,  have  been  taken,  in  some  cases  barbarously 
taken,  and  the  murderers  have  neither  been  appre 
hended  nor  brought  to  justice.  *  It  would 
be  tedious  to  recount  instance  after  instance,  out 
rage  after  outrage,  atrocity  after  atrocity,  to 
illustrate  the  true  nature  and  extent  of  the  wide 
spread  conditions  of  lawlessness  and  violence 
which  have  prevailed. ' '  (Extract  from  Secretary 
Lansing's  note  of  June  20,  1916.) 

With  bittor  truth  Hon.  Charles  E.  Hughes 
points  out  the  ignominy  of  the  present  adminis 
tration's  Mexican  policy:  "The  Santa  Ysabel 


272  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

massacre,  the  raid  at  Columbus,  the  bloodshed  at 
Carrizal,  are  fresh  in  your  minds.  After  the  Co 
lumbus  raid  we  started  a  *  punitive  expedition/ 
We  sent  a  thin  line  of  troops  hundreds  of  miles 
into  Mexico,  between  two  lines  of  railway,  neither 
of  which  we  were  allowed  to  use,  and  which  we  did 
not  feel  at  liberty  to  seize.  We  were  refused  per 
mission  to  enter  the  towns.  Though  thus  re 
stricted,  the  enterprise  was  still  regarded  by  the 
Mexicans  as  a  menace.  Our  troops  faced  hostile 
forces,  and  it  is  not  remarkable  that  our  men  fell 
at  Carrizal.  What  other  result  could  be  expected? 
We  were  virtually  ordered  to  withdraw,  and  with 
out  accomplishing  our  purpose  we  have  been  with 
drawing,  and  we  are  now  endeavoring  to  safe 
guard  our  own  territory.  The  entire  National 
Guard  has  been  ordered  out,  and  many  thousands 
of  our  citizens  have  been  taken  from  their  peace 
ful  employment  and  hurried  to  the  Mexican  bor 
der.  The  administration  was  to  seize  and  punish 
Villa  for  his  outrage  on  our  soil.  It  has  not  pun 
ished  any  one;  we  went  in  only  to  retire,  and  fu 
ture  movements  are  apparently  to  be  determined 
by  a  joint  commission."  (Extract  from  letter  of 
acceptance,  July  31,  1916.) 

An  impartial  review  of  our  dealing  with  Mexico 
reveals  the  following  facts:  While  professing 
not  to  wish  to  interfere  in  Mexico,  we  have  inter 
fered  to  the  extent  of  creating  in  the  Mexicans  a 
distrust  of  our  motives,  and  then  to  our  great  loss 


A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  273 

we  have  halted  with  indecision,  thereby  encourag 
ing  the  bandits,  who  are  now  in  power  in  that  land, 
to  inflame  their  wild  following  to  acts  of  violence. 

Twice  we  have  invaded  Mexico  and  retired  with 
out  accomplishing  our  object.  The  invasion  pro 
voked  resentment;  the  withdrawal  created  con 
tempt.  We  have  pursued  a  policy  of  hypocrisy 
and  cowardice.  We  refused  to  recognize  Huerta, 
whom  the  other  nations  of  the  world  recognized; 
and  yet  we  would  have  recognized  Villa,  whose 
trade  is  robbery  and  murder,  if  he  had  made  him 
self  the  master  of  the  warring  elements. 

Our  administration  disclaimed  the  intention  of 
meddling  in  Mexican  affairs;  and  at  the  same 
time  with  shallow  hypocrisy  it  forbade  Huerta  to 
be  a  candidate  at  the  polls. 

The  mission  of  John  Lind  to  Mexico  in  1913  as 
the  administration's  personal  representative  was 
the  most  fatal  mistake.  The  character  of  the 
man  was  not  fitted  for  any  such  mission.  He  did 
not  know  Mexico,  and  did  not  endeavor  to  ascer 
tain  its  true  condition.  He  was  content  to  enjoy 
the  favor  of  the  very  men  who  were  ruining  the 
country,  and  supplemented  their  perverse  report 
by  plagiarizing  biased  statements  from  the  En 
cyclopedia  Brittanica.  No  such  man  can  convince 
the  decent  Mexican  people  that  the  United  States 
unselfishly  wishes  to  serve  humanity. 

We  destroyed  the  stable  government  of  Huerta, 
and  we  have  let  loose  upon  Mexico  the  minions  of 


274  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

Carranza,  Villa,  Zapata  and  others  of  like  char 
acter.  The  lack  of  sincerity  of  our  motives  is 
well  known  to  Mexico.  They  know  that  the  de 
mand  for  a  salute  of  our  flag  was  a  mere  pretext : 
the  real  motive  was  "that  Huerta  must  go/' 

Huerta  declared  with  bitter  truth  that  he  was 
driven  from  Mexico  by  the  "Puritan"  who  sits 
at  Washington. 

Our  soldiers,  who  fell  at  Vera  Cruz,  were  sac 
rificed  for  the  blunders  of  our  narrow-minded, 
self-opinionated  chief. 

Touching  our  administration's  blunders  in  re 
gard  to  the  embargo  on  the  export  of  arms  to 
Mexico,  the  following  extract  is  apposite:  "De 
stroying  the  government  of  Huerta,  we  left  Mex 
ico  to  the  ravage  of  revolution.  I  shall  not  at 
tempt  to  narrate  the  sickening  story  of  the  bar 
barities  committed,  of  the  carnival  of  murder  and 
lust.  We  were  then  told  that  Mexico  was  entitled 
to  spill  as  much  blood  as  she  pleased  to  settle  her 
affairs.  The  administration  vacillated  with  re 
spect  to  the  embargo  on  the  export  of  arms  and 
munitions  to  Mexico.  Under  the  resolution  of 
1912,  President  Taft  had  laid  such  an  embargo. 
In  August,  1913,  President  Wilson  stated  that  he 
deemed  it  his  duty  to  see  that  neither  side  to  the 
struggle  in  Mexico  should  receive  any  assistance 
from  this  side  of  the  border,  and  that  the  export 
of  all  arms  and  munitions  to  Mexico  would  be  for 
bidden.  But  in  February,  1914,  the  embargo  was 


A   DAUGHTER   OF   MEXICO  275 

lifted.  In  April,  1914,  the  embargo  was  restored. 
In  May,  1914,  it  was  explained  that  the  embargo 
did  not  apply  to  American  shipments  through 
Mexican  ports,  and  ammunition  for  Carranza  was 
subsequently  landed  at  Tampico.  In  September, 
1914,  the  embargo  was  lifted  on  exports  across  the 
border;  thereupon  military  supplies  reached  both 
Villa  and  Carranza.  In  October,  1915,  an  em 
bargo  was  declared  on  all  exports  of  arms  except 
to  the  adherents  of  Carranza.  There  was  an 
utter  absence  of  consistent  policy. 

"For  a  time  we  bestowed  friendship  on  Villa. 
Ultimately  we  recognized  Carranza,  not  on  the 
ground  that  he  had  a  constitutional  government, 
but  that  it  was  a  de  facto  government. ' '  ( Speech 
of  Hon.  Charles  E.  Hughes,  July  31, 1916.) 

Our  national  shame  and  disgrace  is  heightened 
by  the  reflection  that  without  destroying  the  in 
dependence  of  Mexico,  without  seizing  any  of  her 
land,  without  meddling  in  her  proper  domestic  af 
fairs,  we  could  have  safeguarded  the  lives,  honor 
and  property  of  Mexico's  own  citizens;  we  could 
have  done  the  same  for  our  own  citizens,  and  could 
have  established  in  Mexico  a  just  and  stable  gov 
ernment. 

Madero  's  reign  was  an  unmitigated  evil  to  Mex 
ico.  General  Huerta  was  successfully  rescuing 
the  land  from  the  anarchy  of  the  Madero  rule 
when  he  was  hindered  by  the  United  States.  The 
Mexican  people  were  glad  to  be  rid  of  Madero. 


276  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

The  Mexican  people  accepted  General  Huerta  as 
the  lawful  chief  of  the  nation.  Twenty-five  of 
the  twenty-seven  states  accepted  him.  Nearly  all 
the  rebel  chiefs  had  submitted ;  Carranza  was  the 
only  rebel  of  importance  who  refused  to  yield. 

All  the  diplomats  at  the  Mexican  capital  recom 
mended  the  recognition  of  Huerta.  The  following 
outline  of  their  joint  opinion,  sent  in  1913  to  their 
respective  governments,  attests  this : 

"That  the  diplomatic  representatives  of  these 
governments  near  the  Washington  government 
should  be  at  once  given  instructions  to  state  to  the 
United  States  government  that  its  failure  to  recog 
nize  the  (Huerta)  Provisional  government  of 
Mexico  was  evidently  tending  toward  and  contrib 
uting  to  a  wider  extension  and  prolongation  of 
the  rebellion  against  this  government;  that,  un 
less  the  United  States  accords  recognition,  that 
government  should  be  called  upon  to  recognize  its 
responsibilities  by  such  action  and  effective  meas 
ures  as  would  guarantee  the  property  and  the 
lives  of  foreigners  residing  in  this  republic,  and 
terminate  a  war  which  has  now  cost  a  toll  of  over 
100,000  lives. " 

The  administration,  after  its  refusal  to  recog 
nize  Huerta,  adopted  a  policy  of  procrastination. 
President  Wilson  was  misled  by  Lind,  Hale  and 
Pedro  Lascurain.  The  rebels  were  encouraged 
by  the  attitude  of  the  United  States ;  Huerta  was 


A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  277 

eliminated,  and  anarchy,  robbery,  rape  and  mur 
der  have  since  reigned. 

On  February  26,  1913,  the  American  Ambassa 
dor  sent  the  following  to  Secretary  Knox :  '  '  That 
although  the  new  government  resulted  from  an 
armed  revolution  and  at  certain  critical  stages 
events  occurred,  the  responsibility  for  which  has 
not  yet  been  definitely  fixed  and  which  must  be 
deplored  by  the  civilized  opinion  of  the  world,  it 
nevertheless  assumed  office  according  to  the  usual 
constitutional  precedents ;  and,  therefore,  it  is  in 
my  opinion  clothed  with  the  form  of  a  representa 
tive  provisional  government. 

"That  evidently  the  new  administration  is  ap 
proved  and  accepted  by  Mexican  public  opinion, 
especially  by  the  more  respectable  portion  thereof ; 
that  the  new  government  is  equally  accepted  and 
approved  by  the  foreign  elements  in  Mexico ;  that 
in  its  policy  the  cabinet  is  united,  active  and  mod 
erate,  acting  in  full  concord  with  the  President, 
with  the  army  and  with  prevailing  public  opinon. ' ' 

President  Taft  delayed  to  recognize  Huerta  for 
the  purpose  of  compelling  the  Mexican  govern 
ment  to  pay  a  certain  indemnity  for  American 
lives  and  property  destroyed  in  Mexico.  While 
this  bargaining  was  in  progress,  the  Wilson 
regime  came  in,  and  the  recognition  of  Huerta  was 
made  an  impossibility. 

Our  chief  executive  professes  to  be  a  man  of 
broad  national  and  international  view;  in  reality 


278  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

he  is  a  provincial,  who  mistakes  headstrong  blun 
dering  for  firmness  of  purpose. 

When  Villa  raided  Columbus,  N.  M.,  and  killed 
our  peaceful  citizens,  the  cry  of  the  nation  was, 
' '  Villa  dead  or  alive. "  Our  soldiers  marched 
bravely  to  accomplish  this  just  and  proper  pur 
pose.  Then  when  they  had  entered  Mexico,  as 
they  were  commanded  to  do,  they  suffered  priva 
tions  because  Carranza,  bandit  No.  2,  would  not 
allow  them  the  use  of  the  railroads.  More  than 
that,  they  were  shot  down  by  machine  guns  because 
they  marched  to  accomplish  an  object  which  the 
administration  itself  appointed  for  them.  And 
then  the  villain  Carranza  tells  them  to  leave  Mex 
ico.  And  our  cowardly  administration  at  Wash 
ington  bows  to  Carranza  and  accepts  the  condi 
tions  of  withdrawal  which  he  lays  down.  Mean 
while  Villa,  grown  insolent  by  the  weakness  of  his 
former  pal,  and  the  still  greater  weakness  of  the 
United  States,  has  collected  a  large  army,  and  may 
at  any  moment  overthrow  Carranza. 

During  Wilding 's  plea  for  the  chaplain's  life, 
the  Mexicans  prevented  the  chaplain  from  com 
municating  with  his  convert. 

There  was  one  thought  that  relieved  Wilding's 
sorrow.  He  knew  that  Heaven  awaited  the  holy 
priest,  and  as  the  mode  of  death  would  probably 
be  shooting,  his  sufferings  would  be  brief.  A 
strange  presentiment  possessed  Wilding  that  he 
should  soon  follow  the  chaplain.  He  was  prac- 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  279 

tically  certain  that  the  Mexican  chieftain  would 
show  no  mercy  to  his  victim,  and  he  consoled  him 
self  with  that  sentence  of  Holy  Writ:  "Precious 
in  the  eyes  of  the  Lord  is  the  death  of  the  just. ' ' 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Wilding  now  went  in  search  of  Leon.  He  knew 
that  the  Constitutionalists  would  shoot  Leon  at 
sight.  He  visited  the  convent  and  found  it  de 
serted  and  in  wild  disorder.  He  conjectured  at 
once  that  Leon  had  assisted  the  nuns  to  a  place  of 
refuge. 

A  lonely  feeling  came  into  Wilding's  soul.  He 
longed  for  the  peace  of  his  native  land,  but  in  that 
thought  he  never  disassociated  himself  from  his 
friends. 

The  thought  now  came  to  him  that  he  was  not 
baptized.  There  was  no  priest  left  to  minister  to 
him.  Those  who  had  not  sought  safety  in  flight 
were  prisoners.  The  streets  were  filled  with  the 
undisciplined  Revolutionary  troops  and  their 
women.  Wild  disorder  prevailed  everywhere. 

Seeking  the  least  frequented  ways,  he  withdrew 
to  the  outskirts  of  the  city.  Into  his  loneliness 
came  visions  of  Inez.  Had  he  been  worthy  of 
her?  Had  he  shown  the  bravery  of  a  man  in  his 
defense  of  the  chaplain  I  He  could  truthfully  say 
that  further  pleading  for  him  would  only  exas 
perate  his  Mexican  captors  and  hasten  the  priest 's 
death.  He  was  alone  and  could  not  resist  an 
army. 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  281 

In  Wilding's  mighty  sorrow  came  the  memory 
that  Inez  loved  him.  It  was  like  the  angel's  con 
solation  in  Gethsemane. 

He  had  not  slept  for  forty-eight  hours  and  had 
taken  but  little  food.  As  he  reached  the  unin 
habited  tract  at  some  distance  from  the  city,  as 
darkness  settled  down  upon  the  land,  he  sank  ex 
hausted  beneath  a  tree  and  slept. 

Our  capacity  to  suffer  is  finite;  we  find  after 
the  first  shock  of  any  sorrow,  no  matter  how  great, 
is  realized,  we  adjust  ourselves  to  the  new  condi 
tions,  and  in  a  measure  grow  to  regard  our  altered 
lot  as  our  normal  state.  Perhaps  this  power  of 
adjustment  to  less  favorable  conditions  is  a  part 
of  that  act  of  Divine  Providence  by  which  God 
tempers  the  breeze  to  the  shorn  lamb. 

Harold  Wilding's  sleep  was  broken  and  dis 
turbed,  but  still  it  refreshed  him. 

As  the  first  faint  rays  of  the  dawn  shot  over  the 
earth,  WTilding  arose  and  knelt  there  in  the  still 
ness  of  the  early  morn  and  prayed.  It  was  no 
perfunctory  routine  prayer,  but  a  cry  of  the  soul. 
He  seemed  to  be  near  to  God,  like  unto  Eliah, 
standing  at  the  mouth  of  the  cave  in  Horeb. 

He  prayed  long,  and  as  he  prayed  he  was  spirit 
ually  strengthened.  Worldly  things  became  more 
and  more  vulgar  and  worthless  in  his  sight.  His 
love  for  Inez  was  sublimed  so  that  he  loved  her  as 
Valerian,  after  his  conversion,  loved  St.  Cecilia. 

He  ate  some  fresh  fruit  from  a  tree,  drank  of  a 


282  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

rivulet,  and  then  walked  in  an  aimless  manner  in 
a  direction  skirting  the  city.  His  plan  was  to 
ascertain  tidings  of  the  chaplain  and  to  find  Leon. 

He  had  not  proceeded  far  before  a  sight  pre 
sented  itself  to  his  vision  which  made  him  halt  in 
dismay.  A  band  of  soldiers  were  escorting  a 
priest  and  two  Christian  brothers  toward  a  hill 
outside  the  city.  It  was  evident  that  the  priest 
and  brothers  were  to  be  executed. 

Screening  himself  from  observation,  Wilding 
followed  the  soldiers  at  some  distance.  It  would 
be  vain  to  interfere  in  the  carrying  out  of  a  mili 
tary  sentence. 

Arrived  at  the  hill,  the  priest  was  halted  at  a 
short  distance  from  the  firing  squad.  He  was  not 
bound,  and  seemed  to  betray  no  fear. 

At  word  of  command  a  volley  of  rifles  broke  the 
stillness  of  the  morn;  the  priest  fell  forward, 
riddled  with  bullets.  The  two  unresisting  Chris 
tian  brothers  were  placed  side  by  side  and  shot 
together. 

There  was  no  outcry,  no  struggle.  With  calm, 
silent  courage  these  martyrs  faced  the  firing- 
squad,  and  prayed  for  their  murderers  and  for 
their  suffering  land  with  their  last  breath. 

Some  of  the  soldiers  threw  a  little  earth  on  the 
bodies,  and  then  they  withdrew. 

The  brutality  of  the  deed  made  Wilding  sick  at 
heart.  A  great  surge  of  pity  filled  his  soul.  He 
thought  of  his  beloved  instructor,  to  whom  he 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  283 

owed  his  life ;  a  sickening  sense  of  sorrow  and  fear 
overcame  him.  He  sank  down  on  the  earth  and 
moaned  in  helpless  grief. 

He  racked  his  brain  to  find  some  way  to  render 
help.  Nothing  could  be  hoped  from  the  Federal 
ists.  They  were  disorganized,  without  resources, 
munitions  of  war,  and  many  of  them  were  ready  to 
go  over  to  the  Constitutionalists.  His  country 
alone  could  have  Mexico;  but  the  leader  of  his 
country  was  deaf  to  the  voice  of  humanity.  For 
merly,  when  in  a  foreign  land,  he  had  always  been 
proud  to  declare  that  he  was  an  American.  But 
he  could  not  be  proud  of  his  country's  course  in 
Mexico. 

He  arose  and  continued  his  search  for  the  chap 
lain.  He  turned  back  toward  the  city.  He 
walked  slowly,  plunged  in  thought. 

His  meditations  were  suddenly  broken  by  a 
woman 's  cry.  Looking  in  the  direction  of  the  cry 
of  distress,  he  saw  a  fair  young  Spanish  girl  in 
flight,  pursued  by  a  half-breed  soldier.  The  sol 
dier  was  rapidly  gaining  ground,  and  in  a  few 
moments  must  seize  his  prey. 

Instantly  Wilding  sprang  forward  and  planted 
himself  in  front  of  the  soldier. 

As  Wilding  reached  the  terror-stricken  girl,  he 
shouted  to  her :  * '  Fly,  don 't  stop  or  look  back. ' ' 

The  words  seemed  to  give  her  new  strength. 
She  dashed  forward  as  Wilding  sprang  upon  the 
Mexican. 


284  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

The  soldier  was  armed,  but  Wilding's  action 
was  so  quick  that  the  soldier  was  unable  to  bring 
his  weapons  into  play. 

The  men  clinched  in  a  death  struggle.  The  in 
spiration  of  the  justice  of  his  cause  brought  out  in 
Wilding  the  full  powers  of  his  splendid  manhood. 
His  life  had  been  a  model  from  a  natural  stand 
point.  No  vices  had  weakened  his  powers.  The 
soldier  was  a  larger  man,  and  the  struggle  was 
long  and  fierce.  One  man  was  animated  by  the 
noblest  possible  motive:  "Greater  love  hath  no 
man  than  that  he  lay  dow^n  his  life  for  his  friend. 9 ' 

In  engaging  the  armed  soldier  in  combat  Wild 
ing  had  no  thought  that  he  would  overcome  him. 
His  one  thought  was  that  the  honor  of  a  woman, 
an  unknown  woman,  demanded  his  life,  and  freely 
he  gave  it. 

Wilding  was  at  a  disadvantage.  He  would  not 
kill  the  man,  if  he  could  save  the  woman  without 
such  an  act  of  violence.  He  would  not  kill  his 
antagonist  to  save  his  own  life.  He  was  accom 
plishing  his  purpose  by  holding  the  Mexican  from 
pursuing  the  woman.  There  was  no  hate  in  his 
soul;  but  his  antagonist  with  clenched  teeth  and 
bloodshot  eyes  hissed  curses  of  deadly  hate  as  he 
strove  to  inflict  a  deadly  wound. 

The  antagonists  had  fallen  on  the  earth  and 
were  writhing  in  a  fierce  struggle,  which  now  ad 
vantaged  one  and  again  the  other. 

The  extreme  exertion  of  the  combat  had  some- 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  285 

what  exhausted  the  strength  of  both,  when  Wild 
ing  by  a  quick  motion  brought  his  fist  to  press 
squarely  upon  his  adversary's  thyroid  cartilage. 
The  effect  was  instantaneous.  The  Mexican's 
eyes  protruded  from  their  sockets,  his  tongue  was 
thrust  forth  from  his  mouth,  his  muscles  relaxed, 
and  he  was  at  the  mercy  of  his  enemy.  Now 
could  Wilding  have  drawn  the  soldier 's  knife  from 
its  sheath,  and  have  despatched  him,  or  he  could 
have  shot  him  with  the  pistol  that  hung  in  his  belt ; 
but  he  did  neither :  to  kill  was  not  in  his  soul.  He 
withdrew  his  hand  from  the  man's  throat,  arose, 
and  suffered  his  vanquished  foe  to  arise. 

The  Mexican  staggered  to  his  feet,  but  a  vertigo 
seized  him,  and  he  fell  back  heavily,  writhing  and 
gasping. 

A  great  fear  fell  upon  Wilding :  had  he  perhaps 
unwillingly  killed  the  man?  Seizing  a  cup  from 
the  soldier's  belt,  he  ran  and  fetched  water  and 
gave  him  a  drink.  He  bathed  his  hot  temples 
with  the  cool  water,  and  poured  some  of  it  over 
his  heart.  Slowly  the  Mexican's  strength  came 
back.  He  opened  his  eyes  and  gazed  wonderingly 
into  the  merciful,  pure  eyes  of  the  kneeling  man. 

The  hatred  had  gone  out  of  the  Mexican's  eyes; 
admiration  and  love  had  taken  its  place. 

He  sat  up  a  moment,  and  then  accepting  the  offer 
of  Wilding's  hand,  he  arose  on  his  feet,  and  stood 
for  a  moment  in  silence.  Then  he  turned  to  Wild- 


286  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

ing  and  said:  "Why  did  you  spare  my  life, 
Senor?  I  sought  to  kill  you. " 

Wilding  answered  calmly:  "The  Lord  God, 
whom  you  and  I  acknowledge,  has  said:  'Thou 
shalt  not  kill.'  A  few  days  ago  I  received  the 
Catholic  faith,  which  teaches  that  it  is  the  Mas 
ter's  counsel  to  forgive  the  man  who  seeks  my 
life ;  which  teaches  me  to  do  deeds  of  mercy  to  my 
deadliest  foe.  You  received  that  faith  as  a  little 
child ;  it  is  bound  up  with  every  beautiful  thought, 
every  beautiful  memory  of  childhood.  And  yet 
you  throw  it  away.  You  desecrate,  rob  and  de 
stroy  the  churches  of  the  Living  God ;  you  outrage, 
rob  and  murder  the  innocent.  Had  I  plunged  that 
knife  into  your  heart,  how  should  you  have  been 
found  in  the  judgment  of  God?" 

The  soldier  was  greatly  moved.  "Seiior,"  he 
said,  "from  my  boyhood  I  have  been  used  to  the 
rough  ways  of  the  camp.  I  did  as  my  comrades 
did.  I  became  one  of  them.  I  am  a  stranger 
to  everything  that  is  good.  For  twenty  years  my 
lips  have  not  opened  in  prayer,  nor  has  a  thought 
of  God  entered  my  soul.  I  am  hardened  in  crime. 
You  saved  one  woman  from  me,  but  many  there 
have  been  whom  no  one  arose  to  save.  I  have 
robbed  and  murdered  men,  women  and  children. 
My  cup  is  full;  I  am  not  a  man,  I  am  a  demon; 
my  place  is  with  the  demons.  When  my  strength 
failed  me  under  your  might  a  moment  ago,  I 
seemed  to  see  accusing  forms  of  women  with  dis- 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  287 

beveled  hair  beckoning  to  demons  to  seize  me.  I 
cannot  think  of  God.  I  am  afraid  of  Him.  There 
is  no  forgiveness  for  me.  I  despair;  I  will  kill 
myself. ' ' 

The  man  was  on  the  very  verge  of  madness. 
Wilding  must  act  quickly.  Seizing  his  shoulder, 
he  cried  out:  "No,  you  shall  not  kill  yourself; 
you  shall  not  despair;  you  shall  repent;  and  the 
blood  of  Jesus  Christ  shall  save  you,  even  as  it 
saved  the  repentant  thief  on  the  cross. " 

The  man  seemed  bewildered.  Fearful  memories 
came  into  his  soul.  The  hope  that  Wilding  held 
out  to  him  was  battling  with  the  demon  despair, 
and  the  combat  was  fearful.  He  gazed  into  the 
deep,  sympathetic  eyes  of  Wilding,  and  cried  with 
a  voice  hoarse  with  painful  emotion:  "You  do 
not  know  what  I  have  been  or  what  I  have  done. 
I  have  committed  awful  crimes.  I  belong  to  hell. ' ' 

Wilding  required  his  full  strength  to  restrain 
the  man.  Holding  him  in  a  firm,  but  kind  grasp, 
he  said :  "I  am  also  a  sinner,  and  only  God  knows 
our  relative  standing  in  His  sight.  A  messenger 
of  the  Most  High  God  brought  me  to  God  and 
taught  me  of  the  mystery  of  God's  love  and  for 
giveness.  He  told  me  of  the  sinful  woman  in  the 
Gospel  to  whom  much  was  forgiven  because  she 
loved  much." 

At  the  mention  of  the  chaplain  the  soldier  shud 
dered;  he  seized  Wilding  in  frenzy,  crying  out: 
"I  saw  him  shot;  I  took  no  part,  but  I  was  there. 


288  A    DAUGHTER    OP    MEXICO 

He  stood  with  eyes  turned  to  Heaven,  and  prayed 
for  those  who  shot  him  and  for  Mexico.  Demon 
as  I  am,  I  could  not  shoot  that  man.  I  would  have 
rescued  him  if  I  could.  My  worst  crimes  have 
been  committed  when  I  have  been  crazed  by  drink. 
So  it  is  with  us  all.  0,  if  you  knew  it  all,  all  my 
fearful  deeds,  you  would  not  talk  to  me  of  pardon ; 
you  would  kill  me  as  a  viper  that  endangers  the 
lives  of  men. ' ' 

"I  am  not  a  confessor, "  answered  Wilding; 
"the  confession  of  your  sins  to  me  would  be  use 
less.  But  tell  me  this:  Do  you  believe  in  God 
and  the  truths  which  the  Catholic  Church  believes 
and  teaches  I ' ' 

"I  cannot  doubt  those  truths ;  but  I  have  simply 
set  them  aside  and  have  not  thought  of  them.  Sin 
blinded  my  soul,  it  possessed  me,  absorbed  my 
thoughts,  and  controlled  my  deeds.  0,  how  can 
I  endure  the  pains  of  hell,  if  I  must  ever  think  of 
that  fearful  life  of  crime? 

"I  never  was  touched  with  pity  for  my  victims 
before,  but  now  their  faces  come  before  me,  and  I 
feel  as  though  something  were  gripping  my  heart 
and  pressing  my  temples.  I  shall  go  mad,  and  go 
into  hell  a  madman.  0, 1  dare  not  speak  the  name 
of  God.  He  will  hurl  me  into  hell.  0,  mercy,  I 
am  already  in  hell. ' ' 

Wilding  seized  both  hands  of  the  terrified  man, 
and  gazing  into  his  eyes,  said :  "When  you  speak 
words  of  despair,  you  speak  the  words  of  Cain. 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  289 

The  hope  of  your  pardon  rests  upon  the  message 
of  God  Himself,  who  speaks  thus  to  the  sinner  by 
the  mouth  of  His  prophet  Ezechiel  (XVIII.  21-23) : 
'But  if  the  wicked  turn  from  all  his  sins  that  he 
hath  committed,  and  keep  all  My  statutes,  and  do 
that  which  is  lawful  and  right,  he  shall  surely  live, 
he  shall  not  die.  None  of  his  transgressions  that 
he  hath  committed  shall  be  remembered  against 
him:  in  his  righteousness  that  he  hath  done  he 
shall  live.  Have  I  any  pleasure  in  the  death  of 
the  wicked?  saith  the  Lord  God:  and  not  rather 
that  he  should  return  from  his  way,  and  live  I ' 

" There  is  no  limitation  here;  and  lest  a  man 
should  believe  that  there  be  a  degree  of  evil  which 
the  mercy  of  God  could  not  reach,  another  prophet 
of  God  tells  us  that  even  though  a  man's  sins  be 
as  scarlet,  and  in  number  as  the  sands  of  the  sea 
shore,  repentance  and  the  mercy  of  God  destroy 
them. 

"We  may  believe  that  there  are  saints  in 
Heaven  who  have  sinned  as  deeply  as  you. 

"I  do  not  wish  to  lessen  the  realization  of  the 
weight  of  your  sins,  nor  of  my  own.  But  an  in 
finite  price  was  paid  to  redeem  us,  and  in  infinite 
mercy  that  redemption  is  offered  us.  There  is 
but  one  uncertainty  facing  us :  can  you  repent  with 
deep,  sincere  sorrow  of  all  your  sins?" 

"Seiior,  my  rude  soul  knows  not  its  own  feel 
ings.  I  am  filled  with  awful  fear  and  remorse. 
My  deeds  stand  out  from  the  background  of  mem- 


290  A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

ory  like  angry  spectres.  Were  it  not  for  the  fear 
of  hell,  death  would  be  a  relief. ' ' 

"Direct  your  distressed  thoughts  more  directly 
to  my  question.  Can  you  repent  f" 

"I  do  not  know  my  own  thoughts;  I  can  not 
answer:  it  seems  impossible.  I  have  gone  too 
far" 

i  i  The  sincere  acknowledgment  of  your  sins  may 
be  a  preamble  to  repentance.  I  shall  help  you. 
If  you  could  undo  the  past,  would  you  undo  it?" 

t  i  Do  not  mock  me,  Seiior ;  no  one  can  undo  the 
past.  I  realize  now  the  force  of  that  sentence 
Avhich  I  heard  from  the  priest  in  my  boyhood — 
i their  deeds  shall  follow  them.'  My  deeds  have 
followed  me.  They  will  hurl  me  from  the  face  of 
God  into  hell  forever,  forever. ' ' 

"You  surely  wish  that  you  had  not  done  them; 
you  would  not  again  commit  them?" 

"This  is  a  maddening  thought.  I  have  com 
mitted  them ;  I  spared  no  one.  God  might  pardon 
a  man;  but  I  am  not  a  man:  I  am  a  monster. 

0  God,  forgotten,  outraged  God,  cease  Thy  anger 
for  one  moment,  that  I  may  tell  Thee  that  I  hate 
these  crimes  which  I  have  done!      Before  Thou 
dost  cast  me  into  hell,  let  me  at  least  tell  Thee 
that  I  hate  these  crimes;  that  now  I  know  how 
good  Thou  art.     Let  me  love  Thee,  even  though 

1  may  never  see  Thy  face. ' ' 

The  Mexican  turned  suddenly  and  seized  Wild 
ing's  hand  in  a  fierce  grip.  "Seiior,"  he  gasped, 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  291 

"in  my  boyhood  I  once  knelt  before  the  shrine  of 
Our  Lady  of  Guadalupe.  I  was  then  innocent, 
and  I  loved  to  talk  to  our  Patron,  the  Mother  of 
God.  I  had  been  taught  a  prayer  which  con 
tained  a  request  to  be  filled  out  by  the  worshipper. 
I  asked  her  never  to  give  me  up ;  to  follow  me  if  I 
should  be  led  into  evil  ways ;  and  to  call  to  me  and 
help  me  in  my  soul's  danger. 

t '  But,  alas !  I  have  listened  to  evil  counsel  in 
stead  of  harkening  to  her  voice;  I  stifled  every 
good  impulse;  I  fed  upon  ashes.  And  now  iny 
hell  has  begun.  I  shall  never  know  a  moment  of 
peace.  The  worm  is  gnawing  at  my  soul ;  0,  if  it 
could  ever  end !  I  would  gladly  be  condemned  to 
remove  Orizaba's  huge  bulk  and  level  it  as  the 
plains  that  surround  it ;  I  would  gladly  sustain  in 
my  body  the  extreme  of  human  suffering  for  a 
million  years,  if  God  would  at  the  end  turn  one 
look  of  pity  on  me,  and  tell  me  that  I  could  hope. 

"Senor,  I  never  ceased  to  believe  in  God  and 
the  truths  which  He  has  delivered  to  humanity. 
Even  the  evil  that  I  did  I  hated.  I  feared  my 
thoughts,  and  the  reproof  of  conscience;  and  I 
avoided  to  be  alone.  I  lived  amid  wild  disorder, 
which  deafened  the  inner  voice  of  my  conscience. 

"Seilor,  once  we  looted  a  house  wherein  lay  a 
mother  with  a  new-born  babe.  All  the  inmates 
fled,  leaving  her  alone.  I  restrained  the  violence 
of  my  companions,  and  took  mother  and  child  in 
my  arms  on  my  horse  and  brought  her  to  a  place 


292  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

of  safety,  and  I  brought  the  child  to  baptism.  One 
of  the  few  happy  memories  of  my  life  is  that 
woman's  blessing.  0,  if  I  had  spent  my  life  in 
such  deeds  instead  of  in  the  commission  of  foul 
crimes ! ' ' 

"I  am  only  a  catachumen,  not  yet  baptized, " 
answered  Wilding,  "but  my  instruction  in  the 
Catholic  faith  assures  me  that  you  are  even  now 
repentant,  and  that  some  divine  power  is  leading 
you  to  salvation.  You  must  not  lessen  the  de 
testation  of  your  sins,  but  you  must  add  hope  to 
your  sorrow,  and  God  will  take  back  his  prodigal 
son.  You  know  that  the  power  of  God  defeats 
the  effect  of  sin.  When  true  repentance  recon 
structs  a  man's  soul,  there  are  no  evil  effects  of 
his  sins  that  the  power  of  God  may  not  repair. 
Sin  is  evil,  mysteriously  evil,  the  only  evil  in  the 
universe.  You  have  not  begun  to  realize  the 
malice  of  sin;  but  sin  cannot  defeat  the  omnipo 
tence  of  God  by  inflicting  an  injury  on  an  innocent 
person  which  God  cannot  repair.  You  have 
robbed:  God  can  give  back  in  a  better  way  what 
you  deprived  others  of.  You  have  murdered  the 
righteous:  God  took  them  into  a  higher  order  of 
life,  and  infinitely  compensated  them  for  the  loss 
he  allowed  you  to  inflict.  You  have  outraged  the 
innocent:  God  saved  their  souls  from  taint. 

"When  the  Pagan  Prefect  Paschasius  threat 
ened  to  send  St.  Lucy  to  the  Lupanar,  the  saint 
answered:  'If  you  command  me  to  be  violated 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  293 

against    my    will,    my    chastity    will    be    doubly 
crowned. ' 

*  '  Listen ;  do  you  remember  the  prayer  called  the 
Act  of  Contrition  ?" 

"Alas!  Sefior,  I  have  forgotten  all  prayers:  I 
have  not  made  the  sign  of  the  cross  in  more  than 
ten  years. ' ' 

"Can  you  read?" 

"Yes,  Senor,  the  Christian  Brothers  taught  me 
to  read,  and,  0  merciful  God!  I  have  shot  some 
of  these  noble  men.  I  am  worse  than  you  know. 
Do  you  still  bid  me  hope  ? ' ' 

"God  bids  you  hope.  St.  Paul  was  guilty  of 
the  blood  of  St.  Stephen,  and  David  was  guilty  of 
adultery  and  murder.  You  look  only  backward: 
look  forward;  the  omnipotence  of  God  is  greater 
than  your  sins ;  and  that  omnipotence  awaits  only 
the  free  act  of  your  soul  to  blot  out  your  iniquity 
and  to  create  a  right  spirit  within  you. ' ' 

The  Mexican  fell  prone  on  his  face  in  the  dust, 
and  cried:  "0  God,  I  am  not  worthy  to  speak 
Thy  name.  I  dare  not  ask  the  forgiveness  Thou 
granted  to  others.  If  Thou  wilt  only  stay  Thy 
hand  and  not  hurl  me  into  hell  now,  I  will  give  all 
the  years  Thou  givest  me  of  life  to  deeds  of  pen 
ance. 

"But,  0  God,  repair  the  injury  that  I  did  to 
those  innocent  ones.  If  I  can  know  that  they 
have  been  saved,  even  if  Thou  castest  me  from 


294  A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

Thee,  I  shall  suffer  less  for  that  I  know  that  they 
are  safe." 

The  man  paused  suddenly.  Some  powerful  im 
pulse  seized  him.  With  eyes  wildly  staring  up  to 
Heaven,  he  raised  himself  to  a  kneeling  posture, 
and  stretched  out  his  hands  in  pleading. 

"  It  is  true ! "  he  cried, ' l  I  can  be  saved !  I  hear 
Thy  voice  within  me.  Thou  wilt  pardon,  0  God, 
all,  all ;  Thou  wilt  take  me  back ;  Thou  hast  saved 
them;  they  are  safe;  0  Father  in  Heaven,  I  am 
again  Thy  child;  0  my  Father,  what  can  I  do  to 
please  Thee?  I  give  all,  I  am  a  poor,  wretched 
man.  Can  I  serve  Thee;  0,  now  that  Thou  hast 
saved  them  whom  I  wronged,  blot  out  my  sins, 
destroy  them,  I  will  love  Thee  and  only  Thee.  0, 
let  me  do  something  to  show  my  love  of  Thee.  My 
God,  I  can  nevermore  think  of  anything  but  Thee. 
O  God,  Thou  knowest  all  things;  Thou  knowest 
that  I  love  Thee.  I  am  not  worthy  now  of  Thy 
love.  Thou  hast  spared  my  miserable  soul.  It 
is  enough;  it  is  all  that  I  ask.  If  Thou  wilt  let 
me  serve  Thee  I  will  give  my  life,  my  poor, 
wretched  life  to  do  Thy  will.  And  when  years  of 
repentance  shall  have  passed,  wilt  Thou  then  love 
me  a  little?  0,  the  mystery  of  Thy  love.  Thy 
merciful  call  came  to  me  through  this  stranger, 
whom  I  strove  to  kill. 

' l  Let  me  hear  Thy  voice  again  and  again  in  my 
soul ;  Thy  merciful  voice  telling  me  that  I  am  not 
lost.  Show  me  now  my  way;  I  am  only  used  to 


A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  295 

the  ways  of  sin;  I  need  more  than  other  men. 
Thou  must  guide  me  as  a  child.  My  God,  let  me 
suffer  here,  send  me  a  ci'oss,  a  heavy  cross.  Suf 
fering  will  purify  me,  and  then  I  may  be  loved  by 
Thee!  Thou  wilt  not  weary  of  my  cry.  I  must 
come  closer  to  Thee ;  I  desire  only  Thee.  0,  show 
me  a  way  to  be  worthy  of  Thy  love. ' ' 

During  the  impassioned  prayer  of  the  Mexican, 
Harold  Wilding  stood  reverently  with  bowed 
head.  He  felt  a  great  peace  in  his  soul.  He  was 
raised  in  thought  above  all  worldly  issues,  and 
tasted  the  sweetness  of  Clod's  influence.  The 
genuineness  of  the  Mexican's  wild  cry  of  repent 
ance  filled  him  with  joy.  It  seemed  that  the 
Good  Shepherd  was  there  with  them,  and  that  the 
joy  in  Heaven  over  the  prodigal's  return  reached 
them. 

Wilding  felt  also  a  closer  brotherhood  with  the 
penitent.  Drawing  close  to  him,  he  said :  ' '  This 
is  God's  work,  the  greatest  of  all  His  works. 
There  must  be  no  faltering  in  us,  no  going  back 
to  old  ways.  There  is  work  to  be  done  that  de 
mands  faith  and  courage.  But  we  are  not  ready 
for  our  work.  You  need  the  sacrament  of  pen 
ance  and  I  need  baptism.  In  this  suffering  land 
there  is  one  church  which  has  suffered  less  than 
the  others.  The  wicked  men  who  are  destroying- 
Mexico  have  been  held  back  by  some  national  sen 
timent  from  desecrating  the  Church  of  Our  Lady 
of  Guadalupe.  It  has  suffered  some,  but  there 


296  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

we  may  still  find  a  priest  to  minister  to  us.  Let 
us  first  give  thought  to  seek  out  and  restore  to 
safety  this  woman  whom  you  lately  pursued,  and 
then  consign  to  earth  the  body  of  the  saintly  chap 
lain.  We  shall  then,  if  you  are  willing,  make  a 
pilgrimage  to  Our  Lady  of  Guadalupe." 

Wilding's  plan  gave  great  joy  to  the  Mexican. 
It  was  evident  that  he  wished  to  remain  with  the 
.American. 

"My  name  is  Piedro  Morro,"  he  said.  "I  am 
a  man  without  kindred  or  home.  For  many  years 
the  camp  has  been  my  only  abode,  and  I  am  sep 
arated  from  every  known  tie  of  kindred.  The 
great  service  that  you  have  done  me  awakens  in 
me  a  great  love  of  you.  Never  before  in  my  life 
have  I  met  a  man  like  you.  You  have  been  to  me 
the  messenger  of  the  Most  High  God. 

"It  seemed  impossible  at  first,  but  now  I  believe 
that  God  has  forgiven  me.  But  I  can  never  again 
be  as  other  men  in  the  ordinary  affairs  of  life. 
The  realization  that  God  has  forgiven  me  has 
filled  me  with  a  strange,  mysterious  joy;  but  the 
sorrow  that  I  feel  for  my  many  sins  is  with  me 
always.  Things  that  interest  men  are  indifferent 
to  me.  I  long  only  to  think  of  God,  and  to  give 
my  poor  life  to  the  hardest  tasks  for  God's  service. 

'  '  I  am  not  worthy  to  ask  to  be  your  brother,  but 
let  me  go  with  you  as  a  servant.  I  know  this  land 
as  no  man  not  born  within  its  confines  can  know 
it.  To  me  you  are  more  than  a  man.  Command 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  297 

me ;  spare  me  not ;  to  suffer  for  right  will  be  hap 
piness  to  me." 

They  went  together  to  where  the  chaplain  lay 
dead.  His  head  and  chest  were  riddled  with  bul 
lets.  It  required  strong  men  to  endure  the  sight. 
They  buried  the  body  as  best  they  could.  As  they 
placed  the  uncoffined  form  in  the  clean,  fresh 
earth,  they  felt  a  great  sense  of  relief.  The  man 
whom  they  loved  and  revered  had  passed  beyond 
human  suffering.  They  knew  that  his  soul  was 
with  God,  and  the  earth  now  shielded  his  body 
from  dishonorable  usage. 

They  went  in  search  of  the  woman,  but  they 
found  this  a  more  difficult  task. 

While  engaged  in  the  search,  Piedro  sadly  re 
lated  that  the  brothers  of  the  girl  had  all  been 
shot.  She  was,  so  far  as  he  knew,  the  only  sur 
viving  child.  Her  family  was  Spanish,  and  was 
possessed  of  considerable  means.  When  the  fall 

of  Z was  known  to  be  inevitable,  her  father,  by 

greatly  sacrificing  values,  put  much  of  his  prop 
erty  into  gold  coin,  in  preparation  for  a  fight  to 
the  United  States.  The  rapidity  of  the  move 
ments  of  the  Eevolutionary  troops  cut  off  his 
flight,  but  he  had  secreted  the  most  part  of  the 
gold. 

One  of  the  worst  features  of  Mexican  life  is  the 
treachery  everywhere  prevailing.  The  leaders  of 
the  Revolution  were  made  aware  of  all  the  move 
ments  of  this  man  through  the  treachery  of  some 


298  A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

of  those  about  him.  But  the  Revolutionists  could 
not  find  the  man's  gold.  They  allowed  the  man 
and  his  wife  to  flee  unmolested  from  their  home, 
as  their  presence  merely  impeded  the  looting. 
The  soldiery  ransacked  everything.  They  found 
things  of  minor  worth,  hut  not  the  gold. 

The  youth  and  beauty  of  the  Spanish  girl  had  in 
flamed  the  lust  of  Piedro.  He  had  turned  from 
the  looting  to  pursue  her,  with  the  result  already 
known. 

Both  Wilding  and  Piedro  were  persuaded  that 
the  girl  had  rejoined  her  parents  and  that  all  were 
in  hiding,  awaiting  the  coming  of  darkness  to  seek 
safety  in  further  flight. 

Wilding  now  began  to  feel  alarm  for  Leon.  He 
trusted  the  sagacity  of  Joseph  to  place  Inez  and 
Miriam  in  safety,  but  Leon  must  be  somewhere  in 
the  neighborhood.  He  knew  his  noble  nature 
would  never  remain  inactive  while  his  fellow  be 
ings  were  suffering,  and  as  the  Revolutionists  con 
trolled  everything,  he  knew  that  Leon  was  in  dan 
ger. 

It  was  now  past  noon;  the  men  were  hungry, 
and  possessed  no  food.  As  it  would  be  dangerous 
for  Wilding  to  enter  the  city,  Piedro  proposed 
that  Harold  should  remain  where  they  were,  while 
he  (Piedro)  should  go  to  the  city  and  procure 
some  food. 

This  excellent  plan  was  at  once  adopted. 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  299 

Before  departing  Piedro  drew  from  his  pouch 
several  articles  of  jewelry,  a  small  sum  of  gold, 
and  a  few  other  articles  of  less  worth  and  gave 
them  into  the  keeping  of  Harold. 

"  These  articles  I  stole  from  the  home  of  the 
fugitive  girl.  I  am  incurring  some  risk  in  enter 
ing  the  city.  If  I  meet  with  death  in  the  way,  I 
beg  you  to  make  the  restitution  in  the  best  way 
you  know.  There  is  much  restitution  that  I  should 
make  to  many  others ;  but  the  rightful  possessors 
are  dead.  I  have  scarcely  enough  to  procure  food 
for  us  for  one  day.  It  is  a  hard  task  to  undo  the 
deeds  of  years  of  sin. ' ' 

Harold  carefully  placed  the  articles  in  an  inner 
pocket.  Then  he  drew  forth  from  his  supply  of 
money  a  piece  of  gold  and  offered  it  to  Piedro, 
saying:  "Piedro,  my  brother,  though  we  might 
in  our  necessity  use  a  portion  of  your  ill-gotten 
goods  to  buy  bread,  let  us  not  do  it.  Keep  even 
those  few  coins  to  give  to  the  poor,  whom  God 
appoints  as  the  creditors  of  money  due  in  restitu 
tion,  when  the  original  owners  cannot  be  found. 
Accept  my  charity.  The  conversion  of  your  soul 
has  made  you  my  brother,  and  I  shall  always  be 
willing  to  divide  what  I  have  with  you." 

The  hand  that  was  extended  to  take  the  piece  of 
money  trembled,  and  silent  tears  coursed  down  the 
bronzed  face  of  Piedro.  Silently,  with  bowed 
head,  he  set  out  towards  the  city  and  left  Harold 
alone  with  his  thoughts. 


CHAPTER  X. 

Wilding 's  experience  had  filled  him  with  a  deep 
hatred  of  the  ruling  element  in  Mexico.  He  de 
spised  their  treachery,  their  vanity,  their  cruelty, 
and  general  lack  of  character.  He  knew  that 
there  was  a  portion  of  the  people  who  were 
worthy ;  but  these  were  persecuted  and  kept  from 
public  office.  The  facility  with  which  unprin 
cipled  men  acquired  power  and  affluence  by  revo 
lutionary  uprisings  had  engendered  a  spirit  of  un 
rest  and  sedition  in  many.  A  wicked  ambition 
filled  the  land  with  internecine  war  and  brigand 
age.  The  spirit  of  sober  justice  and  peace  was 
crushed  in  Mexico ;  the  land  could  not  heal  itself. 

But  Wilding  was  glad  that  he  had  come  to  Mex 
ico.  There  he  had  found  the  true  Faith  and  his 
beloved  Inez.  Though  distance  separated  Inez 
from  him,  he  felt  her  abiding  presence.  She  was 
not  like  other  women.  She  belonged  to  a  limited 
class  of  noble  spirits  who  reveal,  even  in  their 
earthly  life,  the  beauty  of  soul  of  the  elect  of  God. 

He  knew  that  she  was  thinking  of  him  now. 
Something  seemed  to  assure  him  that  she  was 
safe. 

The  consciousness  of  the  noble  deed  which  he 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  301 

had  performed  was  doubly  sweet  in  that  it  made 
him  more  worthy  of  Inez. 

His  reverie  was  broken  by  the  sound  of  a  foot 
step.  He  stood  erect,  and  peering  in  the  direction 
of  the  sound,  he  saw  an  old  Mexican  Indian  watch 
ing  him.  The  man  was  not  accoutred  as  a  sol 
dier,  and  bore  no  arms.  He  seemed  to  be  nearly 
eighty  years  of  age.  His  face  was  wrinkled  and 
his  form  was  bowed. 

He  now  came  slowly  towards  Wilding,  seem 
ingly  without  fear. 

The  Indian's  face  inspired  confidence;  it  be 
spoke  firmness  and  uprightness. 

Without  removing  his  gaze  from  Wilding,  he 
came  up  and  extended  his  hand. 

Wilding  grasped  it  warmly  and  waited  for  the 
Indian  to  speak. 

"Seiior,  are  you  alone?"  were  the  Indian's  first 
words. 

'  *  I  am, ' '  answered  Wilding. 

"  Where  is  the  Mexican  with  whom  you  were  in 
volved  in  a  fight ?" 

"He  has  gone  to  the  city  to  procure  some  food. " 

"Is  he  your  enemy?" 

"He  is  no  longer  my  enemy.  He  is  a  con 
verted  man,  and  would  now  undo  the  evil  deeds  of 
his  life." 

"Do  you  trust  him?" 

"Every  man  may  now  trust  him.      A  great 


302  A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

change  has  come  upon  him.     It  is  so  powerful  that 
it  leaves  no  doubt  of  his  sincerity. ' ' 

4  *  What  does  he  contemplate  in  regard  to  the 
woman  whom  he  pursued  f" 

"His  purpose  and  mine  is  to  aid  her, and  her 
parents  to  escape  to  the  United  States. " 

"When  shall  he  return ?" 

"I  cannot  say.  He  journeyed  on  foot,  and  in 
these  evil  days  many  things  may  impede  a  trav 
eler's  journey. " 

1 '  You  are  not  a  Mexican  I ' ' 

"I  am  a  citizen  of  the  United  States.  My  name 
is  Harold  Wilding." 

"What  is  your  religion?" 

'  *  Until  lately  I  had  no  religion.  I  accepted  the 
Catholic  Faith  but  a  few  days  ago.  Just  now  I 
found  the  good  priest,  who  taught  me  the  truth, 
shot  to  pieces  in  this  lonely  place.  We  buried  his 
body  there  where  you  see  that  fresh  mound  of 
earth." 

The  old  Indian  bowed  his  head,  and  moved 
slowly  toward  the  rude  grave.  He  sank  down  on 
his  knees  and  remained  motionless  beside  it. 

Some  of  the  racial  traits  of  the  Indian  remain 
in  him  in  whatever  degree  of  civilization  he  may 
attain.  His  stoicism,  his  gloominess,  his  love  of 
simplicity  are  deep  seated  in  the  Indian  char 
acter. 

Not  wishing  to  interrupt  the  Indian's  prayer, 


A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  303 

Wilding  fell  on  his  knees,  where  he  was,  and 
poured  out  his  soul  in  fervent  prayer. 

Both  remained  thus  kneeling  in  prayer  for  the 
greater  part  of  an  hour.  It  was  a  test  of  endur 
ance  for  Wilding;  but  he  seemed  to  feel  that  he 
ought  not  to  show  less  devotion  to  the  martyred 
priest  than  this  unknown  Indian. 

At  length,  the  old  Indian  stood  erect,  and  came 
back  to  Wilding. 

1 '  Have  you  any  kindred  or  friends  in  Mexico  ? ' ' 
he  asked  of  Wilding. 

"My  kindred  are  all  in  the  United  States,  but  I 
have  some  dear  friends  here  in  Mexico.  Their 
safety  is  my  present  greatest  concern." 

"Where  are  they!" 

"There  are  two  ladies  whom  we  have  sent  to  a 
place  of  refuge  in  the  mountains. ' ' 

' i  They  are  safe, ' '  declared  the  Indian. 

This  assurance  was  most  pleasing  to  Wilding. 

4 '  Then  my  dear  friend  Leon  has  been  separated 
from  me.  I  long  to  find  him  and  be  sustained  by 
his  strength  and  goodness. ' ' 

"He  has  been  occupied  in  aiding  the  religious 
women  of  Z to  flee  from  the  soldiers.  I  be 
lieve  that  all  have  escaped,  and  your  comrade  is 
now  with  me.  I  am  a  cave-dweller.  In  this  land 
many  dwell  in  caves.  There  also  the  fugitive 
woman  and  her  parents  are  in  safety.  And  they 
are  safe  there.  No  other  man  in  Mexico  knows 
the  labyrinths  of  that  cave  but  me.  Even  if  the 


304  A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

Revolutionists  attack  it,  they  cannot  find  those 
who  follow  me  into  its  secret  passages.  In  the 
days  of  violence,  which  have  afflicted  Mexico,  many 
have  been  saved  there  from  the  fury  of  their  cruel 
pursuers.  Thus  have  I  spent  my  life ;  it  is  nearly 
spent,  and  I  am  filled  with  regret  that  I  have  no 
one  who  shall  continue  my  work  after  me.  Per 
haps  God  may  yet  send  me  a  successor  before  He 
summons  me  from  mortal  life. ' ' 

As  they  conversed,  they  observed  afar  off  in 
the  first  twilight  of  the  departing  day,  the  form 
of  an  approaching  man.  To  their  anxious  eyes 
was  soon  revealed  the  form  of  Piedro  Morro.  He 
brought  bread,  dried  fruit,  cheese,  and  a  portion 
of  the  roasted  flesh  of  a  goat. 

The  Indian  is  never  demonstrative,  and  least  of 
all  to  one  of  his  own  race. 

Wilding  presented  Piedro  to  the  old  Indian,  who 
took  his  hand,  and  seemed  absorbed  in  deep 
thought. 

"You  need  food,"  he  said  after  a  pause. 
1 1  When  you  have  eaten  we  shall  go  to  my  abode. ' ' 

As  a  sign  of  friendship  the  old  Indian  partook 
of  their  food.  They  spoke  but  few  words,  and 
when  they  had  eaten,  they  set  out  through  the 
gathering  gloom  towards  the  mountains. 

Following  the  lead  of  the  old  Hermit,  they 
reached  the  cave  after  a  journey  of  about  two 
hours. 

As  they  approached  the  cave,  the  old  Indian  by 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  305 

a  sign  commanded  all  to  halt  while  he  went  for 
ward  to  reconnoitre.  He  soon  returned  and  led 
the  two  men  into  a  spacious  cave. 

Complete  darkness  prevailed  everywhere. 

By  holding  one  another's  hands  they  advanced 
by  winding  passages  about  300  yards.  They  could 
hear  human  voices.  The  Hermit  lighted  three 
tallow  candles  and  gave  one  to  Wilding  and  one 
to  Piedro.  By  the  light  of  these  they  advanced 
more  rapidly,  and  soon  entered  a  spacious  cham 
ber  lighted  by  several  tallow  candles.  Here  were 
Leon  and  the  Spanish  family. 

The  meeting  of  Harold  and  Leon  was  extremely 
affectionate. 

The  girl  still  showed  signs  of  her  great  fright. 
She  clung  to  her  mother,  weeping  and  trembling, 
as  the  memory  of  her  fearful  danger  was  revived 
by  the  entrance  of  the  men. 

The  group  were  soon  engaged  in  earnest  con 
versation.  There  was  much  to  relate  and  to  ex 
plain.  Plans  were  discussed  for  the  future,  in 
teresting  personal  experiences  were  related,  until 
all  began  to  feel  like  members  of  one  family. 

The  bond  of  a  common  Christian  faith  made  it 
possible  for  all  to  be  united,  as  were  the  Christians 
of  old  in  the  Catacombs. 

Life  in  a  cave  is  devoid  of  many  comforts.  The 
old  Hermit  had  made  his  cave  dwelling  extraordi 
nary  for  a  dwelling  of  its  class.  In  this  he  was 
favored  by  the  spaciousness  and  dryness  of  the 


306  A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

cave.  There  was  a  sort  of  separate  apartment 
for  the  women ;  rude  beds,  linen  and  blankets  were 
there;  plain  but  serviceable  household  utensils, 
and  articles  of  furniture  had  been  brought  thither. 
There  was  a  store  of  salted  meat  of  various  kinds, 
vegetables,  cheese,  flour  and  meal,  wine,  tallow 
candles,  soap,  etc.  Its  store  might  be  likened  to 
that  of  a  military  camp. 

Several  firearms  of  excellent  make  were  also 
suspended  from  the  walls  of  the  cave.  Crucifixes 
and  holy  pictures  were  in  abundance.  It  was  evi 
dent  that  the  old  Hermit  had  often  afforded  hos 
pitality  to  those  in  need. 

He  was  a  remarkable  man,  one  of  that  large 
class  of  remarkable  men  who  work  in  obscurity, 
and  whose  history  is  never  told. 

All  were  deeply  moved  when  Harold  Wilding- 
brought  forth  the  jewelry  and  other  articles  and 
restored  them  to  the  maiden  from  whom  they  had 
been  stolen.  Piedro  Morro  sat  with  bowed  head ; 
a  flood  of  painful  memories  surged  in  on  his  con 
trite  soul.  Great  tears  of  deepest  sorrow  flowed 
down  and  bathed  his  clasped  hands. 

The  Spanish  family  were  of  very  good  birth  and 
education.  With  many  protestations  the  father 
begged  Wilding  to  give  them  back  to  poor  Piedro, 
adding  that  he  would  add  a  good  sum  of  gold  from 
a  hidden  store,  that  Piedro  might  begin  life  anew. 

Wilding  knew  the  thoughts  and  purposes  of 
Piedro.  Addressing  the  generous  Spaniard,  he 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  307 

said:  "Senor,  Piedro  would  feel  that  his  act  of 
restitution  were  not  complete  if  the  goods  were 
returned  to  him.  It  is  true  that  after  the  owner 
ship  has  been  restored  to  you  the  goods  are  in 
nowise  different  from  other  goods,  and  may  be 
given  by  you  to  whomsoever  you  wish;  but  there 
is  a  sentiment  here  working  that  we  must  respect. 
The  sight  of  those  articles  calls  up  the  most  pain 
ful  of  memories  to  our  brother  Piedro.  The 
change  that  has  come  in  him  is  no  ordinary  one. 
He  will  need  but  little  money  or  worldly  store  to 
accomplish  the  purpose  to  which  he  now  devotes 
his  life. 

"  There  is  one  thing,  however,  which  he  will 
accept  from  you,  if  you  will  give  it :  let  him  hear 
from  your  own  lips  the  message  of  forgiveness." 

The  Spanish  gentleman  arose,  and  going  up  to 
Piedro,  he  assisted  him  gently  to  his  feet.  Then 
embracing  him  in  a  strong  embrace,  he  ex 
claimed  :  * l  My  brother,  I  forgive  thee  even  as  I 
hope  to  be  forgiven  by  God  in  His  great  mercy. ' ' 

The  mother  and  daughter  extended  their  hands, 
and  with  tears  declared  their  full  forgiveness. 

A  beautiful  expression  lit  up  the  face  of  the 
penitent  man.  He  seemed  again  to  hear  that  in 
ner  voice  that  had  given  him  hope  out  in  the  desert 
place.  He  withdrew  a  few  paces  and  fell  on  his 
knees  in  an  ecstasy  of  prayer.  There  was  no 
longer  trace  of  despair  in  his  soul;  only  a  mighty 
love  of  God,  which  burnt  up  the  worthless  dross  of 


308  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

life  as  the  fire  burns  the  stubble  of  the  field  or  the 
dry  leaves  of  the  forest. 

The  Hermit  now  brought  some  excellent  wine 
and  dried  figs,  and  insisted  that  all  should  partake 
thereof  before  lying  down  to  sleep. 

Surely  the  blessing  of  God  rested  on  that  habi 
tation,  and  His  angels  kept  guard  over  it. 

A  perfect  sense  of  security  seemed  to  possess 
all  the  company.  Notwithstanding  the  exciting 
incidents  through  which  they  had  passed,  all  slept 
soundly,  and  were  perfectly  refreshed  in  the 
morning. 

Every  one  had  been  furnished  with  candles  and 
matches.  Of  course,  they  were  cut  off  from  the 
pleasure  of  the  refreshing  morning  air,  but  the 
Hermit  determined  that  if  possible  they  should 
breakfast  in  the  open  air. 

All  felt  a  deep  feeling  of  joy  when  the  Hermit 
invited  Piedro  to  accompany  him  to  the  mouth  of 
the  cave  to  explore. 

They  soon  returned  and  made  known  that  all 
might  follow  them. 

It  was  a  great  happiness  again  to  enjoy  the 
purer  open  air,  and  the  light  and  beauty  of  nature. 

The  Hermit  now  entered  a  small  ramification  of 
the  great  cave  and  led  forth  some  goats.  They 
followed  him  with  great  affection,  rubbing  against 
him  and  nibbling  at  his  loose  garments.  He 
milked  the  goats,  and  then,  aided  by  the  mother 
and  daughter,  he  prepared  a  very  good  breakfast. 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  309 

"I  do  not  believe, "  said  the  Hermit,  "that  the 
Revolutionists  would  harm  me.  None  of  the  war 
ring  factions  have  ever  done  an  unkind  act  to  me, 
but  it  is  prudent  not  to  incur  a  needless  risk.  Life 
here  in  the  cave  is  only  for  a  Hermit  like  me,  and 
as  a  temporary  refuge  for  those  who  are  in  dan 
ger.  Seiior  Melendez,  you  have  saved  enough  out 
of  the  wreck  of  your  fortune  to  maintain  your 
family.  When  the  disorder  following  the  taking 

of  Z has  subsided,  you  will  take  your  gold,  and 

under  the  escort  of  Piedro  you  will  pass  over  the 
border  into  the  United  States.  It  is  better  to  es 
tablish  there  your  permanent  home.  I  see  no 
hope  of  a  state  of  peace  for  Mexico.  It  could 
have  peace  if  its  sons  were  men. 

"Among  the  many  mysteries  which  baffle  our 
understanding  is  the  ethnological  mystery  of  the 
decadence  of  peoples.  We  are  decadent;  our 
mixed  race  is  lacking  in  character.  We  destroy 
the  very  forces  which  would  build  us  up.  There 
are  enough  of  those  who  desire  that  law  and  order 
should  reign,  to  put  down  the  bandits  and  pro 
fessional  revolutionists,  if  we  were  united.  We 
distrust  each  other ;  every  man  seeks  his  personal 
gain;  we  persecute  the  Church  of  Christ;  we  de 
stroy  Christian  civilization. 

"In  the  great  Republic  of  the  United  States 
such  conditions  do  not  prevail.  The  Church  in 
Mexico  would  thrive  if  she  received  that  impartial 
fair  play  which  she  receives  in  the  United  States. 


310  A   DAUGHTEK    OF    MEXICO 

She  does  not  ask  for  anything  but  justice  and  the 
liberty  of  conscience,  which  the  leaders  in  Mexico 
profess  to  advocate.  The  Church  in  the  United 
States  is  allowed  to  incorporate  as  a  legal  cor 
poration.  The  property  that  it  holds  is  enor 
mous.  But  this  property  is  a  benefit  to  the  state. 
It  is  used  for  the  highest  good  of  the  citizens. 
The  Eeligious  Orders  hold  property  as  legal  cor 
porations.  Every  right-minded  citizen  of  the 
United  States  wishes  that  they  had  more  property. 
They  use  it  to  care  for  the  orphan,  to  educate  the 
youth,  to  minister  to  the  sick,  to  serve  humanity. 
The  salvation  of  Mexico  would  be  to  imitate  the 
example  of  the  United  States  in  its  dealings  with 
religion,  and  in  its  love  of  law,  and  order,  and 
peace. 

"  There  is  only  one  act  of  injustice  of  which  I 
have  knowledge  in  the  policy  of  the  United  States 
touching  religion,  and  that  is  its  discrimination 
against  Catholic  schools.  All  the  schools  which 
properly  carry  out  the  curriculum  of  the  Educa 
tional  Department  of  the  state  should  share  the 
public  money.  But  this  is  a  slight  matter  when 
weighed  with  the  blessings  which  the  government 
of  the  United  States  assures  to  all  its  citzens, 
without  distinction  of  creed. 

"There  is  in  that  land  some  religious  bigotry; 
there  is  an  unwritten  tradition  which  might  be 
called  the  Protestant  Ascendency,  evil  spirits 
which  came  into  her  life  from  England.  But  I 


A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  311 

believe  the  effect  of  these  is  rather  beneficial  in 
challenging  Catholics  to  live  so  that  they  may  not 
be  shamed  before  their  non-Catholic  neighbors. 

"You  need  not  fear  to  be  under  the  protection 
of  Piedro  Morro.  He  would  now  be  faithful  to 
any  one,  but  especially  to  you,  to  repair  the  wrong- 
he  did  you. 

"When  Piedro  shall  have  accompanied  you  to 
safety,  he  will  return  to  me :  I  have  need  of  him. 
Age  has  weakened  me,  and  the  great  summons 
can  not  be  far  off.  I  should  like  to  perpetuate  the 
little  good  that  I  have  done  by  placing  here  a  man 
to  do  the  manner  of  work  that  I  have  done,  but 
to  do  it  better.  It  is  not  a  career  that  appeals  to 
worldly  ambition.  I  choose  for  my  adopted  son 
and  heir  Piedro  Morro.  The  great  soul-change 
through  which  he  has  passed  fits  him  for  the  task. 
Piedro  Morro,  dost  thou  accept  ?" 

During  the  discourse  of  the  old  Hermit,  Piedro 
sat  as  though  carved  out  of  stone.  At  the  direct 
address  of  the  Hermit  a  slight  tremor  shook 
Piedro 's  form.  There  was  a  moment  of  silence, 
and  then  Piedro  in  a  low  voice  said:  "If  God 
wills." 

"The  course  of  events  seems  to  manifest  God's 
will,"  replied  the  Hermit,  "and  with  His  blessing1 
we  shall  accept  this  disposition  of  things  as  fixed. 

"There  is  now  a  deeper  matter,  but  as  it  con 
cerns  only  those  who  shall  remain  in  Mexico,  we 
shall  relieve  Senor  Melendez  and  his  family  of 


312  A   DAUGHTEB    OF    MEXICO 

our  presence  for  a  brief  interval.  While  we  re 
main  here  together,  it  will  be  allowed  you  to  enter 
and  leave  the  cave  at  your  own  pleasure.  To 
enable  you  to  do  so,  I  give  you  here  an  exact 
tracing  of  the  labyrinth  as  far  as  that  portion 
where  we  lodged.  Do  not  let  this  pass  out  of  your 
possession.  Destroy  it  if  there  be  danger  of  its 
falling  into  unfriendly  hands.  When  you  shall 
go  from  us,  restore  this  tracing  to  Piedro  or  to 
me." 

The  Hermit  gave  to  Senor  Melendez  a  scroll  of 
parchment.  The  Spanish  gentleman  with  his 
family  withdrew  into  the  cave,  and  the  four  men 
at  once  entered  into  a  secret  conference. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

The  Hermit  first  drew  forth  from  a  small  niche 
in  the  entrance  of  the  cave,  the  Holy  Bible. 

"History  has  repeated  itself, "  said  the  Hermit, 
as  he  opened  the  Bible.  "Days  are  come  upon 
our  land  like  to  those  that  fell  upon  the  land  of 
Israel  in  the  days  of  the  Seleucidae.  The  wor 
ship  of  God  is  forbidden  in  our  land ;  the  churches 
of  the  Living  God  are  profaned  and  pillaged. 
Women  and  children,  priests  and  nuns  are  robbed, 
outraged,  and  murdered.  Certain  of  our  people 
have  made  a  pact  with  wickedness;  they  have 
turned  away  from  the  true  faith,  and  have  joined 
themselves  to  the  sons  of  Belial.  The  words  said 
of  Jerusalem  in  that  epoch  are  fulfilled  in  our 
cities : 

"  'And  they  shed  innocent  blood  on  every  side 
of  the  sanctuary,  and  defiled  the  sanctuary.  And 
the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem  fled  because  of  them ; 
and  she  became  a  habitation  of  strangers,  and  she 
became  strange  to  them  that  were  born  in  her,  and 
her  children  forsook  her.  Her  sanctuary  was  laid 
waste  like  a  wilderness,  her  feasts  were  turned 
into  mourning,  her  sabbaths  into  reproach,  her 
honour  into  contempt.  According  to  her  glory,  so 
was  her  dishonour  multiplied,  and  her  high  estate 


314  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

was  turned  into  mourning. ' — I.  Maccab.  I.  37-40. 

"If  there  can  be  found  in  Mexico  faith  and  cour 
age  equal  to  that  which  was  then  found  in  Israel, 
we  may  save  our  land. 

"The  deeds  of  brave  men  inspire  bravery.  In 
the  terrible  crisis  in  Israel,  Mattathias,  with  his 
five  sons,  arose  to  defend  Israel.  The  enemies 
of  his  country  tried  to  bribe  him,  but  he  answered  : 

"  'If  all  the  nations  that  are  in  the  house  of 
the  king's  dominion  hearken  unto  him,  to  fall 
away  each  one  from  the  worship  of  his  fathers, 
and  have  made  choice  to  follow  his  command 
ments,  yet  will  I  and  my  sons  and  my  brethren 
walk  in  the  covenant  of  our  fathers.  Heaven 
forbid  that  we  should  forsake  the  law  and  the 
ordinances.  We  will  not  hearken  to  the  king's 
words,  to  go  aside  from  our  worship,  on  the  right 
hand,  or  on  the  left. '—I.  Maccab.  II.  19-22. 

"Mattathias  and  his  sons  fled  into  the  moun 
tains  and  forsook  all  their  possessions.  Just  men 
joined  them  until  a  host  was  assembled,  and  they 
smote  the  enemies  of  Israel.  They  acted  with 
prudence  and  order.  Judas  Maccabeus  succeeded 
his  father  as  commander-in-chief.  He  appointed 
captains  of  thousands,  captains  of  hundreds,  cap 
tains  of  fifties,  and  captains  of  tens  (ibid.  III.  55). 
Judas  allowed  no  man  in  his  army  who  was  cow 
ardly  (ibid.  III.  56).  He  and  his  followers  were 
resolved  to  save  Israel  or  die  in  battle. 

"Today  a  Judas  Maccabeus  and  like  followers 


A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO  315 

could  save  Mexico.  We  have  a  better  covenant 
than  was  delivered  to  his  people,  but  have  we  the 
faith!  It  is  not  easy  to  answer  this  question. 
Upwards  of  four  score  years  have  weakened  my 
arm.  But  the  experience  of  a  lifetime  and  all 
that  is  in  me  I  pledge  to  the  cause.  The  move 
ment  might  not  succeed  in  one  generation.  What 
we  need  is  an  organization  of  men  who  hold  their 
lives  of  less  worth  than  the  defense  of  justice  and 
truth  in  Mexico.  We  need  men  who  never  flinch 
in  the  face  of  danger.  We  need  men  who  are 
brave  and  patient ;  men  who  are  ready  to  give  all 
for  their  ideals;  men  who  only  value  mortal  life 
for  the  eternal  fruits  which  they  may  obtain  by 
devoting  it  to  truth  and  justice;  men  who  are 
worthy  to  be  ranked  with  the  heroes  of  old,  of 
whom  St.  Paul  speaks:  <  *  *  *  they  were 
stoned,  they  were  sawn  asunder,  they  were 
tempted,  they  were  slain  with  the  sword:  they 
went  about  in  sheepskins,  in  goatskins ;  being  des 
titute,  afflicted,  evil  entreated  (of  whom  the  world 
was  not  worthy),  wandering  in  deserts  and  moun 
tains  and  caves,  and  the  holes  of  the  earth.  And 
these  all,  having  had  witness  borne  to  them 
through  their  faith,  received  not  the  promise,  God 
having  provided  some  better  thing  concerning  us, 
that  apart  from  us  they  should  not  be  made  per 
fect/—  Heb.  XI.  37-40. 

"I  believe  that  there  are  such  men  in  Mexico. 
They  are  scattered,  unorganized,  without  a  def- 


316  A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO 

inite  plan  and  a  leader.  My  plan  is  to  organize 
them,  to  attach  them  to  a  definite  purpose.  They 
need  not  be  disturbed  now  in  their  mode  of  life. 
A  few  must  devote  their  whole  life  to  the  cause; 
they  must  seek  out  those  who  are  worthy  to  join 
the  organization;  they  must  be  prepared  to  meet 
death  at  any  moment. 

"All  secrecy  permitted  by  the  Roman  Catholic 
Church  must  be  maintained.  There  must  be 
grades  of  initiation,  and  only  those  who  are  tried 
by  many  tests  are  to  be  admitted  to  the  secret 
council. 

"We  must  ramify  into  all  Mexico.  Our  motto 
must  be  'God,  Our  Country,  and  Truth.'  Our 
purpose  must  be  to  give  back  to  Mexico  the  free 
exercise  of  the  Catholic  Religion;  to  restore  law 
and  order ;  to  put  down  brigandage  and  oppression 
of  the  poor;  to  enact  just  agrarian  laws;  to  de 
velop  the  industries;  to  educate  the  people;  to 
reform  the  judiciary;  to  establish  a  sound  na 
tional  credit;  and  to  insure  to  the  people  the  free 
exercise  of  their  right  of  suffrage. 

"Considering  the  present  state  of  the  world,  we 
shall  embody  in  our  plan  that  principle  of  the 
Constitution  of  the  United  States  that  '  Congress 
shall  make  no  law  respecting  religion  or  the  free 
exercise  thereof.'  We  declare  unjust  and  con 
trary  to  the  spirit  of  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States,  the  procedure  by  which,  in  the 
United  States,  the  parish  schools  of  the  Roman 


A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  317 

Catholic  Church  are  deprived  of  their  portion 
of  the  public  money,  and  money  received  by  taxa 
tion.  We  believe  that  all  schools  should  be  under 
governmental  supervision;  that  every  child  shall 
be  free  in  the  practice  of  religion;  that  where 
Catholic  schools  are  established,  they  shall  have 
their  just  share  of  public  money  and  money  raised 
by  taxation,  provided  they  worthily  fulfill  the  cur 
riculum  imposed  by  the  government. 

"We  recognize  the  principle  that  the  internal 
forum  is  reserved  to  God  and  a  man's  conscience; 
therefore  we  adopt  in  its  true  sense  religious  lib 
erty.  We  advocate  stringent  laws  to  safeguard 
the  public  morals ;  all  theatres,  hotels,  and  places 
of  amusement  of  whatsoever  nature  shall  be 
obliged  to  conform  to  a  just  and  proper  code  of 
decency.  We  stand  for  a  Christian  Republic,  and 
to  this  end  we  pledge  our  lives. 

"And  now  Senor  Wilding  and  Piedro  shall  on 
the  morrow  accompany  Senor  Melendez  and  his 
family  across  the  border.  He  shall  bear  with  him 
the  gold  which  we  saved  from  the  Revolutionists. 
This  will  maintain  him  in  the  exile  into  which  an 
unjust  Revolution  forces  him. 

"Senor  Wilding  and  Piedro  will  then  complete 
their  pilgrimage  to  Our  Lady  of  Guadalupe.  They 
shall  return  to  us  at  this  place,  which  shall  for  the 
present  be  the  chief  place  of  meeting  for  our 
league. 

* '  Meanwhile  Senor  Leon  and  I  shall  move  about 


318  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

and  endeavor  to  enlist  some  worthy  men,  so  that 
at  their  return  we  may  lay  the  foundations  of  our 
organization. ' ' 

The  words  of  the  Hermit  produced  a  profound 
effect  on  all  the  men.  They  saw  the  vastness  and 
difficulty  of  the  undertaking;  and  yet  it  seemed 
the  sole  hope  of  Mexico.  The  one  great  uncer 
tainty  of  its  success  lay  in  the  character  of  the 
Mexican  people. 

The  plan  was  just,  it  was  practical,  it  was  bene 
ficent.  But  to  carry  it  into  effect  required  men 
of  faith,  of  sterling  principles,  of  courage.  Could 
there  be  found  among  the  people  of  Mexico  a  suf 
ficient  number  of  men  of  those  qualities  to  give 
their  lives  for  their  country? 

The  great  good  aimed  at  was  worthy  of  the  trial. 
Even  if  this  first  little  band  failed,  their  example 
would  inspire  other  men. 

The  seed  that  a  man  plants  by  sacrificing  his 
life  to  a  noble  cause  cannot  die.  It  is  an  eternal 
principle,  from  which  other  life  shall  spring. 

The  remainder  of  the  day  was  spent  in  prepara 
tions  for  the  journey.  All  passed  a  quiet  night  in 
the  security  of  the  cave,  and  on  the  following 
morning  Senor  Melendez  and  his  family  departed, 
escorted  by  Harold  Wilding  and  Piedro. 

The  Hermit  and  Leon  spoke  a  few  words,  and 
then  departed  from  the  cave  in  different  di 
rections. 


A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO  319 

For  several  days  the  cave  was  deserted.  Then 
the  Hermit  visited  it  for  a  night  and  departed 
again.  Thus  his  visits  were  repeated  at  irregular 
intervals  for  about  two  weeks. 

Wilding  and  Piedro  Morro  accomplished  their 
undertakings,  and  returned  to  find  the  cave  empty. 
In  an  inner  chamber  they  wrote  some  secret  signs 
on  the  rock  and  departed. 

Soon  after  strange  men  were  seen  to  enter  the 
cave.  They  examined  the  written  signs,  wrote 
other  similar  signs  and  stealthily  departed. 

The  Hermit  now  came  to  the  cave  daily.  He 
carefully  examined  every  sign,  wrote  others,  and 
often  held  discourse  with  the  men  whom  he 
chanced  to  meet.  A  definite,  well  ordered  plan 
was  being  developed. 

On  the  day  when  Leon  came,  a  number  of  men 
were  assembled  in  the  inner  chamber  of  the  cave. 
The  Hermit  had  been  unusually  busy  that  day. 
He  had  shot  a  quantity  of  game  and  had  prepared 
this  for  food.  The  store  of  bread,  cheese,  and 
fruits  had  been  much  increased,  and  some  bottles 
of  excellent  wine  were  brought  forth  from  hid 
den  crevices  of  the  rock. 

As  night  approached,  Wilding  and  Piedro  came 
and  many  other  men. 

The  men  never  approached  the  cave  in  groups, 
but  always  one  at  a  time.  It  was  also  evident  that 
they  came  by  appointment:  the  secret  signs  had 
appointed  the  time  and  place. 


320  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

As  darkness  settled  down  upon  the  earth,  about 
one  hundred  men  were  assembled  in  the  great 
chamber.  No  man  spoke.  Sentinels  were  placed 
at  intervals  from  the  place  of  meeting  to  the 
mouth  of  the  cave. 

The  Hermit  placed  the  food  on  rough  planks, 
which  rested  on  wooden  supports. 

" Brothers, "  he  said  solemnly,  "let  us  take  food. 
We  are  willing  to  meet  for  our  great  cause  on  a 
basis  of  equality,  so  there  is  no  preference,  no 
rank;  you  are  welcome  to  what  our  abode  af 
fords.  " 

With  sincere,  brotherly  feeling  the  men  ad 
vanced  to  the  table  and  ate  heartily  of  the  food. 
There  was  no  loud  talking  or  boisterous  mirth, 
but  the  silence  was  broken  by  deep,  earnest  con 
versation. 

When  the  men  had  eaten  and  were  filled,  the 
Hermit  removed  the  fragments  of  the  repast,  and 
then  brought  a  large  silver  cup  and  placed  it  on 
the  rude  table.  He  poured  into  this  cup  a  quan 
tity  of  wine.  Then  taking  a  keen  pointed  poniard, 
he  pricked  his  arm  and  allowed  a  few  drops  of 
blood  to  drop  into  the  cup  of  wine. 

Solemnly  and  silently  every  man  of  the  com 
pany  did  likewise. 

The  Hermit  now  took  the  cup  and  drank  a  swal 
low  of  its  contents.  He  passed  it  to  the  man  next 
to  him,  who  also  drank  of  it,  and  thus  it  passed  to 
every  man,  and  every  man  drank  of  it. 


A   DAUGHTEK    OF    MEXICO  321 

The  Hermit  arose  and  addressed  the  assembly: 
"Brothers,  we  here  christen  our  organization 
'  The  League  of  Blood. '  The  purposes  of  our  or 
ganization  are  well  known  to  you.  We  shall  rely 
on  deeds  more  than  on  words.  We  here  pledge 
faith  to  each  other  and  to  Mexico.  We  hope  to 
found  a  league  endowed  with  such  integrity  and 
vitality  that  it  shall  not  die.  Owing  to  the  fact 
that  injustice,  falsehood  and  violence  now  pre 
vail  in  our  land,  we  must  at  present  work  secretly. 
The  time  shall  come  when  our  league  shall  be 
acclaimed  the  saviour  of  our  country,  and  shall 
be  honored  by  all. 

"As  individuals,  we  shall  pass  away  before  our 
great  object  be  attained.  But  we  shall  leave  the 
impress  of  our  personality  on  our  times,  and  other 
men  shall  be  enlisted  to  fill  the  gaps  caused  by  our 
passing  away.  Every  man's  work  is  to  enlist 
men's  good  will  and  their  membership,  if  they  be 
worthy,  to  our  cause.  Beware  of  treachery.  The 
blood  of  your  brothers,  which  you  have  drunk, 
shall  be  a  solemn  reminder  to  you  as  to  how  you 
shall  protect  the  League.  Let  men  be  admitted  to 
membership  who  are  true  and  tried.  No  man 
shall  be  eligible  who  is  not  a  Roman  Catholic  of 
exemplary  life,  and  who  has  not  attained  the  age 
of  25  years.  The  men  here  present  shall  con 
stitute  the  Great  Council.  If  there  be  a  man  pres 
ent  who  values  his  life  more  than  the  redemption 
of  his  country,  let  him  arise  and  withdraw  in. 


322  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

peace,  and  be  forever  silent  on  what  he  has  seen 
and  heard  here  tonight. " 

No  man  moved.  The  pale,  flickering  light  dimly 
revealed  the  drawn,  set  features  of  the  men.  It 
was  a  remarkable  group.  Strength  and  upright 
ness  of  character  could  be  read  in  the  face  of  every 
man. 

The  Hermit  continued:  "Brothers,  arise  and 
with  uplifted  hand  pronounce  our  oath. 

"I,  N.  N.,  do  of  my  own  free  act  enroll  myself 
in  The  League  of  Blood. 

"I  solemnly  swear  that  I  believe  in  one  God 
and  three  divine  persons.  I  believe  that  Jesus 
Christ  became  man  and  died  for  our  salvation. 

"I  believe  in  the  Catholic  Church,  and  I  accept 
from  her  all  the  truths  which  she  teaches. 

' '  I  swear  to  defend  the  innocent  with  my  life. 

"I  swear  to  submit  at  all  times  the  delibera 
tions,  principles,  and  purposes  of  The  League  of 
Blood  to  the  proper  authority  of  the  Catholic 
Church,  and  to  abide  by  her  decree. 

' '  I  swear  to  refrain  from  all  unjust  acts  of  vio 
lence,  and  only  to  draw  my  sword  in  defense  of 
my  God,  my  country,  and  truth. 

"I  swear  to  work  in  every  lawful  manner  to 
establish  and  maintain  in  my  country  a  just  and 
stable  government,  and  to  this  end  I  pledge  my 
goods  and  my  life. 

"So  help  me  God." 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  323 

An  election  of  officers  followed.  The  Hermit 
was  unanimously  chosen  president;  Leon  was 
chosen  military  leader ;  Wilding  was  chosen  secre 
tary.  There  were  no  other  officers  at  that  time. 

The  plan  of  campaign  was  that,  excepting  the 
three  officers  and  Piedro  Morro,  all  were  to  return 
to  their  respective  vocations ;  that  every  man  was 
to  become  a  peaceful  propagandist  of  the  prin 
ciples  of  the  organization. 

The  Hermit  again  and  again  impressed  the 
truth  on  all,  that  theirs  was  primarily  an  organiza 
tion  to  reform  Mexico  by  peaceable  and  lawful 
means.  Each  member  was  to  be  a  sphere  of  in 
fluence.  As  far  as  he  could  extend  his  influence, 
he  was  to  encourage  men  to  use  the  right  of 
suffrage  to  place  worthy  men  in  office,  arid  to 
create  a  sane  and  healthy  public  opinion.  This 
could  be  accomplished  without  expense,  and  with 
out  demanding  too  much  of  the  member's  time. 

The  financial  system  of  the  organization  was 
unique.  Every  man  was  asked  to  place  in  safe 
keeping  in  his  own  name  ten  per  cent,  of  his  in 
come.  This  was  not  to  be  drawn  on  for  the  needs 
of  the  organization  unless  a  resort  to  extraordi 
nary  means  became  necessary.  If  not  drawn,  it 
was  to  remain  in  readiness  until  the  aim  of  the 
organization  should  be  accomplished.  All  invest 
ments  were  to  be  made  in  the  United  States,  until 
the  finances  of  Mexico  should  be  firmly  estab 
lished. 


324  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

Trimestrial  meetings  of  the  Great  Council  were 
to  be  held  in  the  Hermit 's  cave,  and  the  delibera 
tions  were  to  be  delivered  to  the  other  members 
by  their  respective  representatives. 

The  present  plan  of  the  organization  contem 
plated  a  state  of  things  wherein  the  organization 
would  not  be  permitted  openly  to  work.  It  was 
a  lawful  body,  and  aimed  at  the  highest  national 
ideal;  but  at  present  men  who  work  for  these 
ideals  are  persecuted  and  murdered  in  Mexico. 
The  time  would  come  when  they  could  conduct 
their  propaganda  openly;  they  would  enlist  in 
their  ranks  the  best  men  of  Mexico,  and  by  justice 
and  courage  save  their  country  from  the  evil  men 
who  were  despoiling  the  fair  land. 

They  were  to  resort  to  armed  force  only  as  a 
last  resort  to  enforce  the  principles  of  justice  and 
right,  when  the  conditions  seemed  fit  for  such  a 
movement. 

As  the  principles  and  aims  of  the  organization 
were  formulated,  Leon  realized  that  at  length  he 
had  found  his  vocation.  He  had  longed  to  see 
some  way  in  which  he  could  serve  some  noble 
ideal.  It  had  come.  Here  he  could  use  all  his 
powers  for  his  country.  He  was  ready  to  be 
come  a  martyr  for  Mexico 's  rightful  faith  and  her 
liberty. 

From  Wilding's  soul  also  all  the  old  leaven  had 
been  purged.  He  fully  realized  that  in  accepting 
the  true  faith  of  Christ,  he  had  found  the  pearl  of 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  325 

great  price.  He  was  supremely  happy,  and  in 
his  happiness  the  bright  vision  of  Inez  appeared 
as  an  angel  sent  by  God  to  show  him  the  way  to 
Heaven. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Pursuant  to  the  general  plan  formulated  by  the 
League,  all  the  members  departed  on  the  follow 
ing  morning. 

As  there  were  no  matters  of  importance  that 
immediately  demanded  the  presence  of  Leon  and 
Harold,  they  determined  to  visit  Miriam  and  Inez, 
and  together  with  them  plan  something  definite 
for  the  maidens'  future. 

As  soon  as  the  two  young  men  were  for  a  mo 
ment  relieved  of  the  excitement  through  which 
they  had  passed,  a  great  yearning  possessed  their 
souls  to  see  Miriam  and  Inez.  They  traveled  as 
rapidly  as  prudently  they  could,  and  soon  had  the 
happiness  of  finding  the  two  maidens  in  safety, 
though  somewhat  worn  by  the  anxious  thoughts 
that  they  had  continually  felt  for  Leon  and 
Harold.  It  was  a  joyful  meeting,  like  to  the  re 
unions  of  the  early  Christians. 

Leon  and  Wilding  related  the  series  of  events 
in  which  they  had  taken  part,  concealing,  however, 
as  much  as  possible,  their  own  achievements.  But 
woman's  intuition  supplied  what  the  humility  of 
our  heroes  passed  over,  and  admiration  fed  the 
chaste  love  which  already  reigned  in  the  maidens ' 
souls. 


A    DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  327 

The  manifestation  of  Joseph's  affection  for 
Leon  was  pathetic.  He  spoke  little,  but  hung  on 
Leon's  words  and  clung  to  him  as  a  little  child. 

The  narration  of  the  death  of  the  noble  chap 
lain  revived  the  grief  in  all  hearts.  Eeverently 
all  knelt  and  recited  the  Eosary  and  the  Office  of 
The  Dead  for  him. 

"We  have  prayed  much  for  you  every  day  dur 
ing  our  separation, "  said  Miriam,  "and  now  in 
this  glorious  work  that  you  contemplate,  we  ask  a 
part.  We  shall  work,  and  we  shall  pray,  and  fear 
not  that  we  shall  waver  in  the  face  of  death  for 
our  Faith  and  our  Country. " 

"The  sweet  vision  of  such  angels  in  our  souls 
will  inspire  us  to  the  noblest  deeds, "  answered 
Wilding. 

"You  are  a  born  courtier,"  said  Leon,  grasp 
ing  Wilding  in  a  loving  embrace.  '  '  I  could  easily 
be  persuaded  to  employ  you  to  present  my  suit  to 
the  lady  of  my  choice. ' ' 

"If  I  know  aught  of  human  nature,  I  believe 
that  you  need  no  advocate  with  fair  Miriam;  but 
your  love  has  already  passed  into  the  ethereal 
state.  You  love  as  the  blessed  love  in  Heaven. 
If  I  were  only  capable  of  following  the  adorable 
Inez,  we  might  bask  in  that  effulgence;  but  I  am 
yet  of  the  earth,  earthy. ' ' 

Blushes  and  confusion  followed  this  assertion; 
but  by  reason  of  it,  all  felt  happier.  Wilding  and 
Inez  had  openly  professed  their  love:  it  grew 


328  A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO 

holier  and  stronger  every  moment.  Leon  and 
Miriam  loved  each  other  with  a  still  deeper  love, 
a  love  so  subtle  and  sacred  that  it  needed  no  oral 
expression  to  confirm  it:  their  souls  were  knit 
together. 

The  little  company  now  entered  into  serious 
discussion  touching  the  future.  Miriam  and  Inez 
must  be  placed  in  safety. 

After  a  long  discussion  it  was  decided  that  they 
should  all  journey  across  the  border  into  the 
United  States.  The  maidens  should  be  domiciled 
there,  and  the  men  should  return  to  take  up  their 
work  in  Mexico. 

"You  will  remember, "  said  Wilding,  "that  at 
one  time  I  contemplated  an  appeal  to  my  Country 
for  help  in  Mexico.  I  now  see  the  uselessness  of 
that  appeal,  and  have  abandoned  the  idea.  Un 
fortunately  for  Mexico,  a  number  of  exploiters 
have  by  devious  methods  come  into  possession  of 
some  of  Mexico 's  best  natural  resources.  These 
concessionaires  have  no  interest  in  Mexico,  except 
to  enrich  themselves  of  her  vast  wealth.  Their 
immense  money  power  is  so  great  that  they  are 
often  able  to  control  elections,  or  rather  revolu 
tions,  and  oppress  the  common  people.  If  Mexico 
is  to  be  prosperous  and  peaceful,  these  interests 
must  be  justly  controlled.  Some  evils  will  always 
attend  on  vast  aggregations  of  capital;  but  it  is 
the  duty  of  a  government  to  maintain  a  strong, 
just,  consistent  control  of  these  to  prevent  abuses. 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  329 

"Now  those  who  are  at  present  in  power  in 
Mexico  cunningly  represent  to  my  Government 
and  to  the  Mexican  people  that  they  stand  for  the 
people's  rights  against  the  exploiting  million 
aires.  They  have  induced  the  present  Adminis 
tration  in  the  United  States  to  believe  their  pro 
fessions.  And  for  this  cause  my  Government  is 
not  moved  by  any  appeal  against  the  robberies, 
outrages,  and  murders  perpetrated  by  these  in 
famous  Eevolutionists.  What  the  future  may 
bring  forth  in  the  form  of  a  change  of  Administra 
tion  is  yet  uncertain.  But  at  present,  we  can  ob 
tain  no  help  from  Washington.  Were  we  only 
seeking  earthly  rewards,  I  should  counsel  to  de 
part  from  Mexico  and  fix  our  permanent  abode  in 
my  Country.  But  the  cause  of  humanity  de 
mands  our  lives  in  Mexico.  We  shall  therefore 
place  our  loved  ones  in  safety,  and  then  return 
to  give  our  lives  to  the  cause  of  Mexico. " 

Miriam  and  Inez  were  at  first  reluctant  to  leave 
their  lovers  and  their  country;  but  when  the 
dreadful  danger  that  they  should  incur  by  re 
maining  was  represented  to  them,  they  consented 
to  go. 

As  they  possessed  Black  Bess  and  Miriam 's 
horse,  they  were  obliged  to  purchase  but  three 
additional  horses  and  a  mule  for  carrying  sup 
plies.  They  journeyed  by  lonely  paths,  often 
riding  several  hours  of  the  night.  They  avoided 
all  centres  of  population,  and  set  the  course  of 


OdU  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

their  journey  through  the  most  peaceful  sections. 
When  the  party  rested  at  night,  one  of  the  men 
always  stood  sentinel. 

Thus  they  journeyed  until  they  approached  the 
border. 

A  new  danger  now  arose :  the  border  region  was 
more  thickly  inhabited,  and  was  in  a  state  of 
anarchy.  The  men  had  only  a  few  small  arms 
and  a  small  supply  of  ammunition.  Various  ma 
rauding  bands  were  operating  in  the  region,  and 
it  was  almost  impossible  to  find  a  person  there 
who  could  be  trusted. 

After  some  reconnoitering  by  Leon  and  Joseph, 
the  little  company  found  shelter  in  the  home  of 
a  Spanish  gentleman  of  excellent  character,  who, 
by  liberal  presents,  had  thus  far  succeeded  in  sav 
ing  his  home  from  ruin.  He  was  childless,  spent 
his  modest  income  in  pious  works,  and  being  ad 
vanced  in  years,  took  no  active  part  in  the  polit 
ical  struggles.  He  had  known  and  greatly  re 
spected  the  maidens'  father,  and  was  most  happy 
to  offer  the  company  the  hospitality  of  his  large 
house. 

After  the  trials  through  which  they  had  passed, 
it  was  grateful  to  all  to  rest  here  in  this  truly 
Christian  home. 

Miriam  and  Inez  employed  the  time  in  putting 
in  order  the  wardrobe  of  every  one  of  the  com 
pany,  while  the  men  were  alert  and  active,  study- 


A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO  331 

ing  and  exploring  ways  and  means  of  making  their 
way  across  the  border. 

They  thus  passed  the  time  for  about  a  week. 
The  absence  of  any  sign  of  danger  had  developed 
in  the  maidens  a  sense  of  security.  They  often 
ventured  forth  for  promenades,  which  increased 
in  length  as  their  sense  of  security  itself  grew 
stronger. 

One  morning  a  peon  appeared  at  the  house 
quite  early.  He  was  in  great  distress.  His  wife 
and  his  little  child  were  sick,  and  he  was  unable 
to  provide  for  them.  Miriam  and  Inez  immediate 
ly  answered  the  appeal,  and  as  the  men  were  mak 
ing  preparations  for  their  journey  to  the  border, 
the  maidens  went  alone  with  the  poor  peon. 

They  found  the  family  in  extreme  want  and  in 
great  need  of  nursing.  Bravely  they  took  up  the 
task,  and  as  the  day  was  drawing  to  a  close,  they 
had  provided  everything  necessary  for  the  sick 
mother  and  child.  As  the  grateful  mother  blessed 
them,  she  said  significantly :  ' '  May  God  give  you 
little  here,  but  everything  in  Heaven. " 

As  the  peon's  family  needed  his  presence,  the 
maidens  politely  but  firmly  refused  his  offer  to 
accompany  them.  They  entertained  no  fear  as 
they  set  out :  they  hoped  to  reach  their  destination 
soon  after  nightfall.  The  consciousness  of  the 
good  deed  done  by  them  filled  them  with  courage. 

They  had  not  proceeded  far  when  they  observed 
a  disorderly  troop  of  horsemen  riding  across  the 


332  A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO 

plain  in  their  direction.  A  sickening  sense  of 
dread  filled  their  souls.  Flight  would  only  invite 
pursuit.  There  was  no  refuge  to  which  they  could 

fly. 

Whispering  a  prayer,  they  moved  slowly  for 
ward  with  eyes  riveted  upon  the  approaching 
horsemen. 

As  soon  as  the  troup  observed  the  maidens, 
they  came  forward  at  a  gallop. 

As  the  horsemen  came  up,  the  leader  rode  near 
the  two  trembling  maidens  and  saluted  them. 

Miriam  and  Inez  returned  the  salute,  and  hope 
entered  their  hearts. 

The  leader  was  a  half-breed,  but  spoke  good 
English. 

4 'Good  evening,  ladies, "  he  said,  "may  we  ask 
whither  you  are  traveling  ? ' ' 

"We  have  been  attending  a  sick  woman,"  an 
swered  Miriam,  "and  are  returning  to  the  home 
of  SenorN ." 

1  i  You  are  not  his  daughters ! ' ' 

"We  are  his  guests. " 

"He  is  fortunate  that  you  honor  his  house. 
May  we  offer  you  our  escort  1 ' ' 

' '  Many  thanks,  Senor,  the  way  is  short,  and  we 
shall  soon  reach  our  destination." 

Miriam  had  scarcely  finished  this  sentence  be 
fore  she  was  rudely  seized  by  one  of  the  troopers, 
who  had  dismounted,  and  lifted  into  the  saddle 
in  front  of  the  leader.  Then  seizing  Inez,  he  threw 


A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO  333 

her  into  his  own  saddle,  and  with  a  bound  adroitly 
mounted  behind  her. 

The  maidens'  cries  and  struggles  were  useless. 
The  troopers  rode  forward  at  a  gallop,  and  within 
an  hour  came  to  their  camp. 

To  add  to  their  sorrows,  they  were  separated: 
Miriam  was  lodged  in  a  small  house  under  the  care 
of  an  old  woman  of  evil  appearance. 

Inez  was  given  into  the  care  of  a  younger 
woman,  who  bore  upon  her  face  the  impress  of 
dissipation  and  crime. 

Each  was  placed  in  a  poorly  furnished  room, 
given  some  food  and  drink,  the  door  was  securely 
locked,  and  they  were  left  for  the  night. 

It  was  a  night  of  terror.  What  each  one  feared 
for  herself  was  augmented  by  the  greater  fear  of 
what  might  befall  the  other. 

Neither  Miriam  nor  Inez  slept.  They  prayed 
the  whole  night ;  not  to  be  saved  from  death :  they 
were  indifferent  to  that.  But  they  prayed  to  be 
saved  from  dishonor;  from  that  which  the  true 
woman  fears  more  than  death. 

At  early  dawn,  a  little  before  sunrise,  they 
heard  firing  and  the  commotion  of  a  battle.  Peer 
ing  from  the  narrow  windows  of  their  prison,  they 
could  see  that  a  small  group  of  horsemen  had  at 
tacked  the  troopers  who  held  them  prisoners.  A 
cry  of  joy  escaped  their  lips.  In  the  clear  morn 
ing  light  they  could  discern  Leon  leading  the  at- 


334  A   DAUGHTEK    OF    MEXICO 

tack,  and  among  his  followers  they  could  discern 
Harold  Wilding  and  Joseph. 

The  old  peon  had  from  afar  witnessed  the 
abduction  of  Miriam  and  Inez,  and  had  brought 
the  intelligence  to  the  men  at  the  home  of  Seiior 

N .     All  night  the  three  men  had  labored  to 

collect  members  of  The  League  of  Blood,  and  now 
the  little  band  had  come  to  the  rescue. 

The  League  of  Blood  were  outnumbered  about 
ten  to  one.  They  had  no  hope  of  overcoming  the 
superior  number  of  their  foes,  but  they  hoped  by 
sacrificing  their  lives  to  enable  the  maidens  to 
escape.  „ 

The  fighting  was  desultory.  So  sudden  had 
been  the  advance  of  The  League  of  Blood  that  the 
troopers  had  not  time  to  mount.  From  behind 
rocks,  from  behind  great  cactus  hedges,  and  from 
every  coign  of  vantage,  they  poured  volleys  of 
musketry  upon  The  League  of  Blood. 

By  his  first  gallant  charge,  Leon  had  succeeded 
in  getting  between  the  Revolutionists  and  the 
house  in  which  Inez  was  imprisoned.  The  bravery 
of  his  men  was  greater  than  he  had  believed  pos 
sible.  Every  man  was  utterly  oblivious  of  per 
sonal  danger.  Many  had  fallen,  but  for  every 
man  he  had  lost  many  of  the  foe  lay  dead. 

Leon  turned  to  Joseph,  who  fought  near  him, 
and  said :  ' '  Take  a  man  with  you.  Break  down 
the  door.  Rescue  the  Senorita,  and  let  her  flee, 
We  can  hold  back  the  enemy  for  some  time, ' ' 


A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO  335 

Instantly  Joseph  obeyed.  The  outer  door  soon 
yielded  to  their  powerful  blows.  Like  madmen 
they  explored  the  house.  Frightened  female  in 
mates  ran  shrieking  from  the  house.  They  were 
in  no  danger.  The  League  of  Blood  honored  every 
woman. 

Inez  was  soon  found.  With  characteristic  cour 
age  and  good  sense,  she  sprang  forth,  even  run 
ning  ahead  of  her  rescuers. 

Harold  Wilding  saw  her,  and  rode  towards  her. 

But  now  a  new  danger  arose.  Another  band  of 
Revolutionists  came  galloping  across  the  plain. 

Back  of  the  house  a  footpath  led  down  to  a  cliff 
that  beetled  out  into  a  great  chasm.  Inez  saw 
the  path,  and  with  a  smile  and  a  wave  of  her  hand 
to  Wilding,  she  darted  down  the  path. 

It  was  a  narrow  path,  running  irregularly  be 
tween  crags  and  boulders.  With  difficulty  two 
men  abreast  could  pass  through  it. 

Leaping  from  his  horse,  Wilding  beckoned  to 
Joseph  and  his  companion  to  follow  him  into  the 
narrow  pass. 

The  three  men  took  an  advantageous  position 
behind  sheltering  rocks,  and  prepared  to  hold  back 
the  maiden 's  pursuers. 

Only  a  part  of  the  reinforcements  of  the  Revo 
lutionists  engaged  in  the  pursuit  of  the  girl.  The 
rest  directed  their  attack  against  the  main  body  of 
The  League  of  Blood  commanded  by  Leon. 

With  deadly  aim  Wilding  and  his  two  friends 


336  A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO 

picked  off  every  man  who  entered  the  path.  Soon 
no  one  of  the  Kevolutionists  dared  enter  there. 

But  while  this  unequal  struggle  was  there 
waged,  a  number  of  the  Revolutionists  made  a 
detour  and  entered  the  path.  The  three  brave 
men  were  thus  exposed  to  a  rear  attack,  which 
made  it  impossible  for  them  to  hold  out.  Volleys 
of  musketry  were  poured  in  upon  them,  also  from 
the  high  crags  above  the  path. 

Bravely  they  fought  and  died.  They  had  ac 
complished  their  purpose.  By  holding  back  the 
Revolutionists,  they  had  given  Inez  time  to  reach 
the  brink  of  the  fearful  precipice,  and  there  she 
stood  resolute  and  determined  not  to  allow  the 
foul  horde  to  defile  her. 

When  the  last  defender  of  the  pass  had  fallen, 
the  Revolutionists  dashed  forward  in  pursuit  of 
Inez. 

She  heard  them  approach.  Calmly  she  knelt  in 
prayer.  "0  Heavenly  Father,  save  my  beloved 
sister  from  harm.  I  ask  not  for  mortal  life  for 
her  or  for  me.  Take  us  to  Thyself,  but  without 
stain.  0  God,  take  to  Thyself  those  noble  friends 
who  are  giving  their  lives  in  defense  of  what  is 
right  and  holy  in  Thy  sight.  Unite  us  in  Thy 
Kingdom,  where  sin  and  sorrow  cannot  enter. 

0  God,  I  love  Thee,  and  through  love  of  Thee  I 
repent  of  all  my  sins.     I  forgive  all  my  enemies ; 

1  forgive  those  misguided  men  who  now  seek  to 
destroy  me.      Accept  the  sacrifice  of  my  poor 


A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO  337 

little  life,  and  show  mercy  to  my  afflicted  country, 
and  let  Thy  blessing  descend  upon  The  League  of 
Blood." 

The  Revolutionists  were  plunging  forward,  each 
eager  to  seize  the  fair  girl.  The  foremost  soldier 
was  within  thirty  paces  of  the  maiden,  when  she 
raised  her  eyes  to  Heaven  and  commending  her 
soul  to  God,  she  sprang  into  the  abyss,  into  which 
no  living  man  has  ever  entered. 

The  soldiers  stood  amazed  for  a  moment,  and 
then  retreated  towards  the  entrance  of  the  narrow 
path. 

Meanwhile  by  prodigious  bravery,  Leon  and  his 
valiant  men  drove  back  the  larger  force  of  Revo 
lutionists. 

While  these  scenes  were  being  enacted,  Miriam 
stood  praying  at  her  window  and  watching  the 
battle. 

The  old  woman  entered.  Miriam  turned  to  her 
and  said:  "Why  am  I  held  here?" 

"The  master  loves  fair  women,"  answered  the 
woman.  He  has  brought  many  here,  but  none  so 
fair  as  you." 

"Help  me  to  escape,"  pleaded  Miriam,  "even 
though  death  lie  in  the  way.  I  fear  not  to  die,  but 
I  fear  dishonor." 

The  old  woman  came  close  to  her  and  said  in 
a  low  tone  of  voice :  ' '  Senorita,  when  I  look  into 
your  face  I  feel  a  pity  for  you  that  I  cannot  re 
sist.  You  are  not  like  other  women;  you  are  an 


338  A   DAUGHTER    OF    MEXICO 

angel.  When  you  come  into  that  true  country, 
prepared  by  our  Saviour  for  such  as  you,  inter 
cede  for  this  poor  wretch,  who  has  only  known  the 
rough  ways  of  sin  since  childhood.  Listen;  take 
this  dagger,  and  hide  it  in  the  folds  of  your  gar 
ments.  I  will  open  the  door  at  the  risk  of  my 
own  life.  At  the  outer  door  you  will  find  a  rough 
sentinel.  Then  you  will  have  use  for  your  dagger. 
I  send  you  forth  to  probable  death,  for  I  know 
what  awaits  you  here.  Eemember  me,  0  Senorita, 
when  you  shall  see  the  face  of  God. ' ' 

The  old  woman  thrust  into  Miriam 's  hand  a 
glittering  dagger,  and  hurried  her  forth. 

As  Miriam  emerged  from  her  prison,  a  brutal 
fellow  caught  her  in  his  arms.  Instantly  Miriam 
plunged  the  dagger  to  the  hilt  in  his  side. 

With  a  guttural  groan  he  fell  writhing  in  death 
at  her  feet. 

Drawing  the  dagger  from  its  deep  wound,  she 
rushed  towards  Leon. 

"0  Senor,  what  hope  have  we?  Where  are 
Inez,  Harold  and  Joseph  V9 

She  had  never  before  realized  the  full  nobility 
of  his  soul.  He  seemed  now  in  this  supreme  test 
the  incarnation  of  all  that  was  great  and  good  in 
all  the  heroes  of  whom  she  had  read. 

" There  is  no  earthly  hope,  Senorita;  we  have 
been  waiting  for  you.  Inez,  Harold  and  Joseph 
are  dead:  they  are  the  first  martyrs  of  the  new 
Mexican  Freedom.  0,  it  is  great  to  die  as  they 


A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO  339 

died.  There  is  no  taint  on  your  angel  sister.  You 
will  meet  her  among  those  who  follow  the  Lamb 
whithersoever  he  goeth." 

Leon  leaped  from  Black  Bess.  "  Mount  my 
noble  horse  and  fly,  Miriam,  and  do  not  let  them 
take  you  alive.  There  is  no  horse  in  their  ac 
cursed  ranks  so  fleet  and  enduring  as  my  Bess. 
We  have  now  won  our  victory.  Let  Black  Bess 
carry  you  to  safety  or  to  death.  You  are  a 
DAUGHTER  OF  MEXICO.  You  fear  nothing  but  dis 
honor.  We  shall  all  fall  here ;  we  are  surrounded ; 
outnumbered  twenty  to  one.  We  shall  meet  in  a 
better  land;  and  perhaps  there  we  shall  be  per 
mitted  to  love  each  other  as  we  have  loved  upon 
earth. 

"Farewell,  Miriam,  hasten,  quick,  to  the  west, 
towards  the  cliff. " 

Tenderly,  but  quickly  he  lifted  her  into  the  sad 
dle.  He  kissed  her  hand;  he  read  through  the 
tears  in  her  eyes  the  thought  of  her  soul;  and  he 
carried  into  eternity  the  happiness  of  that  mes 
sage  of  purest  love. 

His  voice  trembled  as  he  gave  his  last  command 
to  the  noble  steed. 

Black  Bess  bounded  away  to  the  westward,  car 
rying  Miriam  to  death,  but  away  from  that  which 
is  worse  than  death. 

The  Revolutionists  had  extended  a  thin  line  of 
cavalry  in  a  movement  to  surround  The  League 
of  Blood.  The  wings  of  this  encircling  movement 


340  A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO 

were  being  pushed  in  a  converging  course  to  the 
westward;  and  to  this  only  open  point  Miriam 
directed  her  course.  Beyond  lay  the  great  chasm, 
the  unknown  grave  of  the  sister  she  loved. 

Miriam  was  at  a  great  disadvantage.  To  close 
in  on  her,  and  cut  off  her  retreat,  the  troopers  at 
the  extremities  of  the  wings  would  need  cover 
about  two  thirds  the  distance  that  Miriam  must 
traverse  to  escape  them. 

They  did  not  fire  at  her;  her  dead  body  would 
be  of  no  use  to  them:  rape  or  ransom  was  their 
motive. 

In  a  fair  contest  they  would  have  had  no  hope  of 
winning  the  race  with  Black  Bess. 

But  now  to  save  the  precious  burden  which  she 
carried,  Black  Bess  must  overcome  a  heavy  handi 
cap. 

Erect  in  the  saddle  and  with  superhuman  cour 
age,  Miriam  encouraged  Black  Bess,  patting  her 
glossy  neck,  and  speaking  her  name. 

The  splendid  animal  put  forth  all  her  energy. 
Miriam  prayed  and  hoped. 

She  was  within  ten  yards  of  the  opening,  when 
one  of  the  troopers,  who  had  ridden  a  little  in  ad 
vance  of  the  others,  came  close  to  her  and  ex 
tended  his  hand  to  seize  Black  Bess'  bridle. 

Miriam  held  in  her  right  hand  the  dagger  which 
had  saved  her  from  the  sentinel. 

As  the  horseman  leaned  slightly  forward  to 
seize  her  horse's  bridle,  she  plunged  the  dagger 


A   DAUGHTEB   OF    MEXICO  341 

into  his  throat.  Her  aim  was  true.  The  keen 
blade  cut  a  gash  from  ear  to  ear ;  the  trooper  fell 
from  his  horse,  and  Black  Bess  dashed  on  through 
the  narrow  opening,  increasing  with  each  bound 
the  distance  between  her  and  her  pursuers. 

With  fearful  yells  they  came  on;  a  hundred 
yards  in  front  was  the  abyss. 

Miriam  leaned  forward  and  spoke  loving  words 
to  the  noble  animal. 

"Save  me,  Bess,  Leon's  noble  steed.  On,  on, 
Bess,  Bess." 

The  dagger  had  dropped  from  Miriam's  hand, 
as  she  struck  the  trooper.  She  was  within  ten 
paces  of  the  brink  of  the  chasm.  Raising  her  right 
hand  she  struck  the  mare  on  the  flank,  and 
shouted:  "On,  on,  Bess!" 

Black  Bess  quivered  under  the  slight  blow. 
With  a  snort  she  leaped  forward  and  plunged  into 
the  abyss  three  hundred  feet  to  the  rocks  below. 

There  in  the  unexplored  depths  of  primeval 
creation  they  lay  mangled,  uncoffined,  alone. 
They  had  done  no  evil ;  they  had  wronged  no  one. 
And  yet  they  had  been  hunted  to  death  by  men 
who  indirectly  have  the  sanction  of  the  Great  Re 
public  of  The  New  World. 

The  day  died  away;  the  troopers  returned  to 
camp  to  revel;  the  pale  light  of  the  moon  shone 
down  upon  the  faces  of  the  dead.  No  man  had 
been  spared,  Leon  and  his  comrades  of  The 
League  of  Blood  had  set  an  example  that  shall  in- 


342  A   DAUGHTER   OF    MEXICO 

spire  other  Mexicans  to  noble  deeds  until  Mexico 
shall  be  free. 

Those  who  see  with  the  eyes  of  Heaven  saw 
angels  ascend  from  that  chasm  and  plain  with 
glorified  beings,  whose  faces  shone  with  the  light 
that  comes  from  the  face  of  God. 

THE  END. 


14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 

LOAN  DEPT. 

This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 

on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 
Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 


RECTO    U 


FES  2  6  1903 


Y.C  i  02534 


M317381 


